By Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Giants might have been playing Sunday to save their playoff hopes, but it wasn't the Super Bowl.

Just ask the official on Pete Morelli's crew who allegedly used that as an excuse when the Giants were complaining about a bad whistle during their 33-18 loss to the Saints.

"They are worried about reffing in the Super Bowl game," linebacker Alec Ogletree said when asked by NJ Advance Media about the officiating. "If you ask them why didn't they call a call and they tell you they wouldn't make that call in the Super Bowl, that's bad all around. That definitely was explained to me: You wouldn't make that call in the Super Bowl."

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Asked to name the official or the specific play on which that was the response, Ogletree declined.

But one of the Giants' two defensive co-captains wasn't totally tight-lipped.

"I don't think that's right," Ogletree said. "You should call the game as it's being played. If you do that, everything will work itself out. I'll leave it at that. They are worried about reffing in the Super Bowl."

The NFL declined comment to NJ Advance Media when asked whether it would look into the discussion and if it it is OK with what was allegedly said. Giants coach Pat Shurmur has a laundry list of officiating inquisitions for the NFL this week.

A number of potentially 50/50 calls seemed to go against the Giants. Here is a closer look at just a few:

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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

A catch-and-fumble by Wayne Gallman that could have been ruled an incompletion. "I didn't have the possession of the ball," Gallman said. "Everyone did (think it was going to be overturned) but I guess it's new (catch) rules. I guess."

It led to three points for the Saints.

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A 15-yard personal foul penalty against Janoris Jenkins for a horse collar tackle above the nameplate but not inside the collar: "Honestly, it's a great tackle," safety Landon Collins said.

It led to three points for the Saints.

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@rydunleavy morelli missed them all but this one was the most heinous. 1st play from the 3 after the muff, that’s a safety and maybe the game right there. I’m on my couch with a quick camera, morelli is 10 feet away and Job is watch the QB/line, what’s his excuse? pic.twitter.com/NUTPitwHzp — Nick Black (@nick88black) September 30, 2018

A missed tripping call on the Saints offensive line with the ball at the three-yard line that would have resulted in about 1 1/2 penalty yards but offset a 21-yard gain: "It felt like it, but I didn't see it (on replay) yet so I don't know. It would've been a big turn in momentum right there. I feel like it definitely would have made a difference."

It led to seven points for the Saints.

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Our @nflnetwork camera was there as #NYG LB/Captain Alec Ogletree said an official told him that he wouldn’t have made that call in the Super Bowl. Video here: pic.twitter.com/z4ZbYYsVKl — Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) October 1, 2018

A defensive pass interference call against Donte Deayon, who appeared to be holding the jersey before the ball arrived: "I was just competing and I feel like I got there at the same time as the ball did. I didn't feel like I hooked him or anything and they called the flag."

It led to seven points for the Saints.

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Sterling Shepard got slammed into the turf with what looked like a horse collar penalty (especially compared to the one against Jenkins) but there was no call against Saints cornerback Ken Crawley: "Yeah, that's the way the game goes. Sometimes the refs aren't in your favor. You think they should be. That's the way the game goes, though."

It led to the Giants settling for three points instead of seven.

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The "not the Super Bowl" excuse seemed to bother the Giants most.

When told of what Ogletree said, Collins audibly bristled and seemed speechless as to not criticize the officials. That can lead to a fine from the NFL office.

"Pffft," Collins said. "I'm done. That's it. How? Next question."

Pressed for more of a reaction on the referees, Collins said, "They (Saints) got some bad calls, we got some bad calls. I think our calls were worse than theirs. It's all (up to) the officials, honestly. If they feel disrespected by a player, they'll call it against you every time. It's all on their discretion."

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A missed facemask penalty against Marcus Davenport that would have tacked 15 yards onto the end of Saquon Barkley run.

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Eli Manning report card vs. Saints

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NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

About the crew...

Morelli's crew entered Week 4 with the most roughing the passer penalties in the NFL (six). There wasn't a flag for that particular call in the game, but the Giants coaches issued a stern warning to players before the game to be on the lookout for this crew.

"We watched a video breaking down what is and isn't a penalty," one Giants defensive player who requested anonymity told NJ Advance Media earlier this week. "The coaches definitely told us that this crew will call anything close to roughing the passer."

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WATCH: Odell Beckham kicks as part of his pregame warmups

Ryan Dunleavy can be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on @rydunleavy.