The controversial 'No Call' cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl, but it also cost gamblers some money.
One online betting company is making that right though and refunding betters who put money on the Saints. PointsBet Sportsbook, an online sportsbook working in New Jersey, is paying back all Spreadline and MoneyLine bets on the Saints as "Bonus Bets."
"One blown call may change a game's outcome. That doesn't mean it should change YOUR outcome," the company tweeted. "We're paying back ALL SpreadLine and MoneyLine bets on the @Saints. Everyone will have their bets refunded as Bonus Bets. Just think of it as Good Karma."
Los Angeles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman committed a blatant interference penalty with a helmet-to-helmet hit on Tommylee Lewis well before the pass arrived, forcing the Saints to settle for Wil Lutz's 31-yard field goal that made it 23-20 with 1:41 left in regulation.
"Came to the sideline, looked at the football gods and was like, 'Thank you,'" Robey-Coleman said. "I got away with one tonight."
It was the first home playoff loss for the Saints with Brees and coach Sean Payton, who had been 6-0 at the Superdome since their pairing began in 2006.
If the pass interference penalty had been called, the Saints could've run most of the time off the clock to set up a winning field goal from chip-shot range. A replay was shown over and over on the Superdome's giant video boards, prompting some fans to toss trash on the field.
"Being that it happened right there in front of the person who would be the one to make the call, and everyone in the stands saw it, everyone watching at home on TV saw it, that makes it even more difficult to take," Brees said. "Because of this, I'm sure there will be a lot of talk about reviewing penalties, perhaps game-changing penalties."
Payton said he talked to the NFL office after the game and was told that Robey-Coleman should have been flagged.
"Not only was it interference, it was helmet to helmet," the coach said. "I don't know if there was ever a more obvious pass interference."