Yes, the microscope is greater this time of year.
I agree that it's just a matter of time before ALL calls are subject to review, from a centralized location where a team of replay officials watch every play. Belicheck has called for this in the past, and there's no reason it can't be implemented. This particular play would have been a no-brainer though, which makes it worse.
Did you know that commissioner Roger Goodell has so much power, he could actually reverse the ruling of this game? Or actually make them play it over? True!
Rule 17, Section 2, Article 1:
"The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which the Commissioner deems so extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major effect on the result of the game."
I don't know that the one play in question should be deemed "extraordinarily unfair" though. But food for thought, considering this rule exists, and yet they won't allow plays like this to be reviewed.
I agree that Sean Payton coached a bad game. Well, a questionable 4th quarter and OT. Recall that I stated the Rams were statistically one of the worst teams in the NFL against the run, especially outside, maybe the worst in the league, I can't recall right now. Well, the Saints only had Ingram run the ball 9 times, and Kamara for 8. Their average was not good, 2.3 total for the team, but the team overall had a 2:1 pass to run ratio, which is very surprising for a team so built on a dynamic running game. In the 4th quarter the Saints gave up on the run almost entirely. But they also gave up throwing any sort of short passes to the backs. Their fist drive was three passes out of the shotgun, nearly all of them over the middle, then a punt. Their next possession started nearly identical, three passes out of the shotgun, finally a run for a loss to Ingram, then the long pass by Brees to Ginn. With the ball at the 13 and the two minute warning, they again had Brees in shotgun and he threw an incomplete. They finally ran to Kamara for no gain, which was mostly a time killer and ball mover. Then, with 1:49 to play, the fateful play in question. When they got to OT, they had Brees throw four straight passes out of the shotgun, the 4th being intercepted. Granted, hindsight is always 20/20, and I'm guilty of being a Monday morning QB here for sure. Plus, they were not running the ball well, but why they gave up on the run, even the running backs entirely, almost is beyond comprehension. I know they have Drew Brees, I get that, but the decisions they made, decisions I was concerned and predicted they might, may have cost them the game as much as anything.
Agree with Brady's greatness. But I also agree they played well as a team, and have the best coach ever, which won this game as much as Brady. The reason why the Patriots dynasty is arguably greater than that of the Yankees or Canadians is because of the strict salary cap, and free agency in the NFL is far greater than those leagues ever were.
I should note that I'll be really surprised if the Patriots don't put up a more dynamic running game in the SB with White and Michel (even Develin and Burkhead), and throw the ball to White especially, maybe a lot. They did just that against the Chargers.