Sean Payton burned 2 quick timeouts on back-to-back 4th quarter challenges, whyyyyy

The New Orleans Saints are making a heady comeback from a 17-0 deficit after scoring 14 straight points to open up the second half. Head coach Sean Payton, however, is doing what he can to ratchet up his own team’s level of difficulty Sunday night.

Payton signaled for two coaches’ challenges in a four-play span despite having no replay evidence to suggest officials had botched either call. He unsurprisingly lost both, losing two timeouts in the process and ensuring he’d go the majority of the fourth quarter without the ability to question anymore officiating mistakes in the Divisional Round of the 2018 playoffs.

Payton’s first challenge flag appeared to be a consequence of peer pressure. Case Keenum floated a 27-yard pass to Jarius Wright that the wideout corralled while diving to the turf. Replays showed the ball was clearly controlled after an initial bobble, but the enthusiasm of his players on the sideline and a Vikings offense rushing to get the ensuing play off forced the veteran head coach to call on the referees.

That was an understandable mistake -- Minnesota’s hurry-up offense pressed the issue, and Payton seemingly went with his gut. His second challenge, however, was less forgivable.

Three plays later, Keenum felt the pressure of a collapsing pocket and unloaded an incomplete pass a split second before he could be sacked. It was a close play, but the MVP candidate clearly released the ball in the last possible moment before his knees hit the turf.

Only Payton didn’t see it that way. He tossed his challenge flag once again, and a quick conference with league officials in New York would cost him a second timeout and his ability to challenge anymore calls for the remainder of the game.

What this means for the Saints: New Orleans trails 20-14 in a hostile environment with time winding down in the fourth quarter. And now the Saints burned two timeouts with zero benefit to the team. This could very well come back to bite the Saints and sink their NFC Championship hopes.