Saints vs. Lions Wild Card Playoff: The 36 Seconds That Never Were

The game was out of hand.

The script was written, and we all know the outcome.

Yes, the Saints had run rampant in the second half against the Lions and were on their way to a well-deserved, 45-28 victory in the Wild Card Round game.

That being said, in the waning moments of a game that should have had no drama left in it, a ludicrous display unfolded that had me screaming at my television set in horror.

The Saints came out of the two-minute warning with second and goal inside the Lions' 5-yard line.  Instead of trying to put one more dagger in the heart of their Detroit foes, coach Sean Payton elected to go the softer route and run out the clock.  Arguably, this was a merciful act.

Quarterback Drew Brees took the snap and knelt the ball down.  Forty seconds ran off the clock.  Third-and-goal.  Brees took another snap and knelt the ball down.  Another forty seconds ran off.

Now here's the incredible part.  Fourth-and-goal.  Thirty-six seconds remaining.  Brees takes the snap and kneels.

Commentator Al Michaels gives a few words to wrap up the game, but I know better.  Just like any 12-year old who has played a game of Madden, I know that the clock stops on a change of possession.

"The joke's on all of you," I thought to myself.  The Lions would have the ball at their own 7 with 36 seconds remaining.

Then I noticed the clock hadn't stopped moving.  Wait, the clock was still ticking.  The coaches and players were off the sidelines and on the field.  Wait, this game isn't over...

Only, incredibly, it was.

Now you may be thinking to yourself that the Lions were trailing by 17, that they had no chance of coming back, and that, because of these two facts, this whole situation was moot.

I disagree.

This is an incredible turn of events.  In essence, these referees proved that they either have no knowledge of their sport's rule-book or that they see themselves as the judge of when the game is over.  If the first is true, this incompetence, especially in a playoff game, hurts the integrity of the sport.  If the second is true, which I believe it is, it sets a precedent that sets up a rather bleak future for the NFL.

There are set rules for how the clock runs.  Breaking them at will because you believe the game to be "over" borders on the "mercy rule," where games are called when it is unlikely a team will come back.

Sure, the Lions probably would not have come back from the incredible odds they faced.  

However, stripping them of their opportunity to do so is no different than if the Lions' game against the Cowboys had been stopped when the deficit was 24 points.

No one can decide when any game is over until, well, it's over.  Remember that whole Yogi Berra "fat lady" thing?

I loved the Saints' performance and was ready to go away from that game in awe of Drew Brees.  Instead, I'm left with a foul taste in my mouth, wishing those last 36 seconds could just be played so the game can end.