LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. _ Malcolm Jenkins couldn't look away but admitted it was hard to watch. The Eagles Pro Bowl safety knew what it meant when referees missed an obvious pass interference penalty and helmet-to-helmet contact, an infamous no-call that likely would have sent the New Orleans Saints to Super Bowl LIII.
"I mean, it hurts just watching it because you know how much goes into it, how fragile and small the margin for error is to get to that level and all the work you put in to get there and have it blown on something you really can't control?" Jenkins said following the NFC's Pro Bowl practice at Disney's Wide World of Sports. "It's got to be infuriating."
But according the Jenkins, the miracle of hindsight known as instant replay should not have been needed. Nor does he necessarily join the chorus of people who think the NFL should make pass interference reviewable.
"No, just make the right call," Jenkins sad. "It wasn't that hard. You didn't need instant replay to figure that out. But I've been in trouble for criticizing referees so I'm going to be quiet."
By now, you've seen one of the million replays of the play that could not be corrected by replay.
Referee Bill Vinovich's crew missed a pass interference call on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman with 1:45 remaining in Sunday's NFC Championship Game on third and 10 from the Rams' 13-yard line. The refs also missed another penalty for helmet-to-helmet contact on the play.
Had a flag been dropped for either, the Saints would have had a new set of downs and chance to run down the clock before attempting a chip-shot field goal to win the game with less than 20 seconds remaining.
Instead, the Rams had enough time to force overtime and went on to beat the Saints 26-23.
Packers receiver Davante Adams believes teams should be allowed to challenge an obvious pass interference penalty, whether it's called or not.
"I feel like you should be able to challenge a penalty, if nothing else," Adams said. "I mean, it's hard to say something will make or break a season, but when it's in a situation like that, that's pretty glaring. I've been hearing a lot of conspiracies and the referees. I stay away from that, but they've got to look into all that stuff.
"I mean, I honestly just thought there was a flag thrown but it wasn't in plain sight. So I'm looking around and I'm like supposedly they moved the cameras and there's no flag, so I'm thinking somebody is a big Rams fan or something."
Although he wasn't in the NFL yet, Adams has learned all about the time the Packers were burned by what has been come to be known as the Fail Mary or Inaccurate Reception.
At least in that case, replacement officials were being used early in the 2012 season during a referee lockout.
In that game, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson launched a Hail Mary pass to Golden Tate in the end zone. Tate and Packers defensive back M.D. Jennings came down with the ball. One official signaled touchdown, the other called it a touchback. After a huddle, they ruled it was simultaneous possession, resulting in a winning TD for the Seahawks. But prior to the catch, replays showed Tate shoved Packers cornerback Sam Shields with both hands.
"It's tough man, it's tough," Adams said. "But I definitely feel for those guys because I've been on the bad side of that situation before and I know the Packers have, too, with the Fail Mary. But it's hard."
Chargers Pro Bowl safety Derwin James didn't seem too concerned with whether the NFL would move to make pass interference a reviewable play.
"I don't really care. I mean, the rules are the rules," James said. "You've got to learn how to play within the rules."
Bucs receiver Mike Evans, who tied for the most offensive pass interference penalties in the NFL last season with four (including one that was declined), didn't seem too concerned about the ramifications of that play in the NFC Championship Game.
Maybe it's because he has no love for the Saints.
"What do you mean? Did I think it was it a P.I. or helmet to helmet?" Evans asked rhetorically. "Defenseless receiver? I don't know. It could've been either/or."
What they called was neither, and that's why the Rams are headed to the Super Bowl.
