Saints lose Drew Brees, rematch against Rams

The injury to Brees came when his throwing hand hit against Aaron Donald's outstretched hand as he approached the quarterback.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) watches game action against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Another officiating blunder cost the New Orleans Saints in another loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But that might be the least of their worries.

The Saints played the final three quarters with Drew Brees on the sideline. A hand injury in the first quarter caused him to miss all but the first two possessions on offense. 

Teddy Bridgewater replaced Brees, and the Saints could muster nothing more than three field goals and lost to the Rams 27-9.

In the NFC championship last January, officials failed to call pass interference against the Rams with less than 2 minutes remaining, leaving the Saints to kick a go-ahead field goal with enough time for the Rams to tie the score in regulation and win in overtime.

The officiating blunder Sunday came late in the first half. With the score tied 3-3, Cameron Jordan picked up an apparent fumble by Rams quarterback Jared Goff and ran 87 yards for a touchdown. 

But as Jordan scooped up the ball, an official mistakenly whistled the play dead -- apparently thinking it was an incomplete pass -- thereby keeping a touchdown off the board.

When the Saints' drive stalled with a failed fourth-and-1 attempt near midfield, the Rams went ahead 6-3 on a field goal with three seconds left.

The Rams began the second half with a punt but scored touchdowns on the next three possessions. The third touchdown came soon after Cooper Kupp's gain of 66 yards to the New Orleans 1.

The injury to Brees came when his throwing hand hit against Aaron Donald's outstretched hand as he approached the quarterback. 

Brees tried to pick up a football while on the sideline but could not maintain a grip. He watched the rest of the game from the sideline with white athletic tape wrapped around his wrist and the base of the thumb on his hand.

There was no immediate diagnosis about the injury. The team initially ruled him as questionable to return. He stayed on the sideline.

Brees has missed one career game due to injury, when a hurt shoulder caused him to miss a Week 3 game in 2015 against the Panthers.

The Saints will spend the coming week in Seattle to prepare for a road game next Sunday against the Seahawks.