That was a terribly called game. The refs screwed us over on SO many plays.
To start, the catch that one of the umps from way down the field ran up to call incomplete should have been a catch. The review should have been unnecessary because a ref by the line of scrimmage that did not have a good view of the play was the one to run up and call it incomplete. The others then went along with him. The review should then have overturned as his hand was clearly under the ball. The commentators were even saying it was a terrible call. That ultimately killed our opening drive and handed momentum to Denver.
Second, the spectacular non-call on the offsides by Denver on Gano's missed field goal. I saw Denver's guy (whose name eludes me right now) jump offsides from my couch in real time. How the refs missed so blatant of a call I will never know. Now, it was 4th & 11, so at best Gano gets another chance from a bit closer, but maybe he hits that one and Carolina gets a bit of confidence.
Third, late on a Carolina drive, Ted Ginn has two arms around his waist when the ball gets to him. Now, I'm pretty sure that's pass interference, but again a no-call. It was in the red-zone and that was a 3rd and long, but the penalty would have been enough to give a 1st down. Drive stalled, momentum stays with Denver.
All game long, the penalties added up. Lots of little stuff seemed to be called on Carolina while only big stuff was called on Denver. Broncos were allowed to "just play" as we so often hear happens in the super bowl while everything seemed to draw a flag for Carolina. Tre Boston knocks the ball away from a celebrating Sanders. How many times does that happen in the regular season and nothing happens? Tonight, 15-yard penalty. Yeah, he shouldn't have done it and it was dumb, I know, but the point being is that the teams were handled differently. Denver was allowed to play while Carolina was under a microscope.
The NFL did have motivation for the Broncos to win as well. It completes the big story of Peyton Manning retiring at the top of the game. Going out a winner, etc. Great story and great for the NFL, right? Besides, Carolina is young, they'll probably be back in the next few years right? They can win then. Denver also happens to be the larger market, not to mention all the sentiment that was running against Cam & the Panthers this year.
I will add that Denver just happens to be
6-0 under Head Ref Clete Blakeman now, who was the one working tonight. Does that mean anything? Probably not, but it smells just a little bit.
I'm just waiting for Peyton to announce his retirement so the NFL can have their perfect little story all tied up neatly: "Manning Goes Out a Champion."
Now, does this mean all this is true and the NFL is actively sabotaging teams with certain calls or influencing games by selective enforcement? Probably not. Like I said, I'm pissed and very emotional right now, so I'm lashing out and looking for something to blame other than the poor play of the Panthers. They're my team and have been since their first season in 1995. I watched them lose to New England in Super Bowl 38 (2003 season) and so to sit here and watch them lose again sucks.