A non-call late in the NFC Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans set social media ablaze in frustration after the Saints lost, 26-23, on a 57-yard field goal in overtime.

With 1:49 left in regulation, the Saints -- with the score tied -- had the ball on third-and-10 at the Rams' 13-yard-line. Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw the ball up for wide receiver Tyquan Lewis, but Los Angeles Rams corner Nickell Robey-Coleman scrambling to cover Lewis, slammed into the receiver before the ball arrived.

The officials didn’t call a penalty, even though it was a blatant pass interference.

A penalty would’ve given the Saints a first down and allowed them to run more time off the clock before scoring a touchdown or kicking a field goal, likely enabling them to win.

Instead, the Saints settled for a field goal, and the Rams drove for a tying field goal in the final seconds to send the game into overtime, where Greg Zuerlein’s long field goal won it, 26-23.

Sean Payton: “I hope no other team loses a game the way we lost that game.” #BadCallNFL pic.twitter.com/q21Mw6cWQB — Jarrett Bell (@JarrettBell) January 20, 2019

The NFL’s definition of pass interference includes the phrasing “contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent’s opportunity to make the catch.”

Here is video of the penalty.

Dean Blandino, Fox Sports' rules analyst/expert and the NFL’s former Vice President of Officiating, called it a clear foul.

That’s a foul. — Dean Blandino (@DeanBlandino) January 20, 2019

.@DeanBlandino gives his take on the defensive PI no-call. pic.twitter.com/umMYri5y35 — FOX Sports (@FOXSports) January 20, 2019

The Rams secondary had struggled for much of the season but played quite well against Brees, a future Hall of Famer. After the interception, he had compelted 26 of 40 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zrosenblatt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook.