The New Orleans Saints filed a formal appeal with the NFL Monday morning asking the league to overturn Sunday’s 31-30 loss to Detroit, arguing that the team’s “winning motion had already begun” well before the final score was recorded.
The filing was submitted before league officials could determine whether New Orleans had violated any additional rules by questioning the ruling.
The appeal cites the replay ruling that erased a Saints defensive touchdown in the second quarter after Jared Goff lost the ball while being hit by Chase Young.
Although the ball traveled backward and was returned for a touchdown, officials determined Goff had already begun his throwing motion and therefore ruled the play an incomplete forward pass.
Saints officials believe the league has now established an important precedent.
According to the filing, New Orleans’ winning motion did not actually begin until sometime late in the third quarter, after the team spent much of the afternoon moving decisively in the opposite direction.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid giving the league another reason to fine New Orleans, a team official said, “We were down 21-0, so obviously the motion took a little while to develop. But once it started, our intent was unmistakable. And we’ve been informed that where things ultimately end up is apparently irrelevant.”
I was Week 1 2026 years old when I learned a quarterback’s intention to throw the ball forward can turn this into an incompletion. I … don’t get it. pic.twitter.com/XUgaSBGRrX
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 13, 2026
Team attorneys argue that once the comeback motion started, however, the Saints’ intent to win had been established and should supersede whatever happened afterward.
The Saints are also asking the league to review several additional plays under the newly discovered standard, including the failed overtime two-point conversion.
“The ball was clearly intended for the end zone,” the appeal states. “We see no reason its eventual location should suddenly become relevant.”
Team attorneys reportedly included several diagrams showing the general direction New Orleans had hoped the game would go, along with a detailed explanation of the Saints’ longstanding intent to score more points than their opponent.
The NFL acknowledged receiving the appeal but noted that the rule does not apply when it would help the Saints, citing longstanding league policy.
League officials said the final score remains 31-30.
The Saints intend to appeal that as well.
Still don’t get it https://t.co/EOQiiWFr3u
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) September 14, 2026