Mike Pereira: Officials got call correct on game-altering punt

What the heck happened on the game-altering punt return that set up Kai Forbath's game-winning 50-yard field goal as the New York Giants lost to the New Orleans Saints, 52-49, on Sunday?

Brad Wing of the Giants punted and Marcus Murphy of New Orleans fielded the ball and the Giants, exceptional on punt coverage all year, were nowhere to be found. Murphy returned the ball 24 yards to the Giants' 47-yard line, where Craig Dahl forced him to fumble. New Orleans recovered the ball and advanced it. Officials returned the ball to the spot of the fumble because of rules not allowing advancement of a fumble in the final two minutes.

That would have saved the Giants, except that Wing was called for a 15-yard face mask penalty, setting up New Orleans at the 32-yard line for the game-winning field goal.

Fomer NFL vice president of officiating and current FOX Sports analyst Mike Periera said that officials got the call right.

"In the end they got the enforcement of it right, and the face mask call right," Pereira said.

Here is Pereira's full explanation.

My @kfc Midday Fill Up: explaining the series of events before New Orleans' game-winning FG https://t.co/Vg57JNN1ia

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) November 1, 2015

We know you disagree. We know head coach Tom Coughlin is not satisfied with the explanation, or lack thereof. Pereira, however, feels the call was the correct one.

This tweet from Art Stapleton won't help anyone feel better:

Perception of the play, however, is that the refs said no penalty, then changed their minds after being urged to watch replay on big board.

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) November 1, 2015