Drew Brees Posts Emotional IG to Saints Fans: I Refuse to Let This Hold Us Down

New Orleans Saints star quarterback Drew Brees wrote an emotional Instagram post Monday morning, addressing the team's heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

It read in part:

"I've spent this last week navigating the heartache and disappointment from the game. Some things within our control and some outside our control that caused us to fall short. So much of our motivation is to represent the Who Dat Nation with determination and resiliency. We want to play for you, fight for you, and win for you. You deserve that.

Brees continued:

"There is no place like New Orleans. There is no community like ours. No fans like the Who Dat Nation. I refuse to let this hold us down. I refuse to let this create any negativity or resentment. I embrace the challenge. 

"So keep your chin up, hold your head high, puff your chest out because WE are the Who Dat Nation and WE will always persevere."

The Saints' loss in the NFC Championship Game infamously featured an atrocious non-call by the referees, when Los Angeles Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman clearly committed pass interference against wide receiver Tommylee Lewis on a crucial third-down attempt late in the fourth quarter. 

So blatant was the non-call that Robey-Coleman has since been fined by the NFL $26,739 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Lewis, which also wasn't called.

Had either penalty justifiably been called, the Saints would have had the opportunity to run out the clock and attempt a game-winning field goal as time expired. Instead, they were forced to kick the field goal with a little under two minutes remaining, allowing the Rams a chance to get back the ball and tie the game.

The Saints still had ample opportunities to win, but the defense was unable to keep Jared Goff from driving down the field for that game-tying field goal. The Saints also had the ball first in overtime and could have won with a touchdown on that opening drive, but Brees threw an interception.

The defense was unable to keep Goff from getting into field-goal range a second time, and Greg Zuerlein blasted a 57-yard game-winner to send the Rams to the Super Bowl. 

It was the second straight year the Saints lost in the playoffs in devastating fashion. Last season, an improbable touchdown reception by Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs on the last play of the divisional-round matchup ended New Orleans' season. The team and its fanbase have faced heartbreak in two straight seasons, but Brees is remaining positive in the face of that adversity.