This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| NFC Championship Game (2019) | |
|---|---|
| Title | NFC Championship Game (2019) |
| Date | January 20, 2019 |
| Stadium | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
| City | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Teams | Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints |
| Attendance | 70,048 |
| Referee | Bill Vinovich |
| Network | FOX |
| Announcers | Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers |
NFC Championship Game (2019)
The 2019 NFC Championship Game was an NFL postseason contest between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 20, 2019. The game determined the National Football Conference representative in Super Bowl LIII and featured prominent figures including quarterbacks Drew Brees and Jared Goff, head coaches Sean Payton and Sean McVay, and officials led by referee Bill Vinovich. Controversy over a non-call on a pass interference play and subsequent rulings involving the National Football League drew national attention, legal discussion, and widespread media coverage.
The matchup followed divergent 2018 seasons for the franchises: the New Orleans Saints finished atop the NFC South with stars like Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara, and coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., while the Los Angeles Rams claimed the NFC West under coordinator Wade Phillips and offensive architect Sean McVay. The Saints entered the game after playoff victories at Chicago Bears and against the Philadelphia Eagles, whereas the Rams advanced following a divisional win over the Dallas Cowboys and a controversial win over the Denver Broncos in prior seasons contributing to roster moves such as acquiring Jared Goff and drafting Aaron Donald earlier in their rebuild. The contest was notable for prior meetings between defensive standout Marshon Lattimore and pass rushers including Cameron Jordan and Von Miller-era comparisons, and for attendance and venue issues tied to Atlanta Falcons franchise logistics at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In the first quarter, the Saints relied on quarterback Drew Brees connections to receiver Michael Thomas and tight end Jared Cook while the Rams countered with runs by running back Todd Gurley and intermediate passes from Jared Goff to Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. The second quarter included a Rams field goal by kicker Graham Gano and a Saints touchdown drive featuring Alvin Kamara, plus pivotal defensive plays from Rams lineman Aaron Donald and Saints linebacker Demario Davis. The third quarter saw momentum swings as the Rams engineered a touchdown drive culminating in a score by Brandin Cooks after a key third-down conversion involving Cory Littleton. Late in the fourth quarter, controversy arose on a deep throw to Tommylee Lewis—ruled incomplete despite contact between Nickell Robey-Coleman and Lewis—with immediate reactions from coaches Sean Payton and Sean McVay, league officials including Roger Goodell, and commentators such as Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. The game entered overtime—under NFL overtime rules—where the Rams won with a field goal after possession exchanges involving punts by Johnny Hekker and returns by Ted Ginn Jr..
First quarter: Graham Gano 31-yard field goal (Rams), Saints touchdown pass Brees to Jared Cook. Second quarter: Saints field goal by Wil Lutz, Rams touchdown run by Todd Gurley, Saints touchdown run by Alvin Kamara. Third quarter: Rams touchdown pass Goff to Brandin Cooks, Saints field goal by Wil Lutz. Fourth quarter: Rams field goal by Graham Gano, Saints touchdown pass Brees to Michael Thomas, late controversial incompletion on pass intended for Tommylee Lewis leading to regulation tie. Overtime: Rams field goal by Graham Gano to win the game.
Key statistical leaders included Drew Brees with passing yards to receivers Michael Thomas and Jared Cook, and Jared Goff distributing to Cooper Kupp and Brandin Cooks with passing efficiency comparable to regular-season meetings against rivals like the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. Defensively, Aaron Donald and Cameron Jordan recorded pressures and tackles for loss, while special teams players Johnny Hekker and Ted Ginn Jr. affected field position. Team totals reflected balanced rushing by Alvin Kamara and Todd Gurley, third-down conversions influenced by coordinators Wade Phillips and Pete Carmichael Jr., and turnovers and penalties that mirrored earlier NFC playoff trends against franchises such as the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers.
The non-call on clear contact led to immediate criticism from media outlets including The New York Times, ESPN, and The Washington Post, and calls for rule changes by former players like Kurt Warner and executives such as John Elway. The National Football League later admitted the officiating error in a statement by Roger Goodell and the controversy prompted the NFL Competition Committee to discuss expanded replay review for pass interference, resulting in temporary rule changes debated at the NFL owners meeting. Fans organized protests at venues including Mercedes-Benz Stadium and on social media platforms tied to organizations such as the National Football League Players Association. The Rams advanced to Super Bowl LIII to face the New England Patriots, impacting roster decisions involving players like Aqib Talib and coaches like Belichick's opponents' analysis.
The telecast on FOX featured announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, sideline reporting by Erin Andrews and studio analysis from personalities such as Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long on affiliated programs like NFL on FOX. Halftime and pregame entertainment in Atlanta, Georgia included performances linked to regional culture and production teams with ties to networks that previously covered events at Mercedes-Benz Superdome and festivals such as Essence Festival of Culture. Postgame coverage extended to international partners including BBC Sport and streaming platforms operated by Amazon Prime Video and cable affiliates like ESPN2 for extended analysis.