Patriots Fall In Final Seconds To Panthers
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Both the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers dazzled fans for four quarters of a thrilling Monday Night Football matchup, but it is a last-second non-call that will dominate the water cooler discussion on Tuesday. As time expired on the Patriots and Panthers, Robert Lester intercepted Tom Brady in the end zone. Yet the officialt threw a flag. Many assumed that the flag was for pass interference in the end zone, which would give the Patriots one more play from the one yard line trailing 24-20 with no time left in the game.
But when the officiating crew picked up the flag and called off the penalty, the game was over and Patriots players, coaches and fans were left scratching their heads.
The game was marketed as a battle of two elite quarterbacks. When the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers took the field on Monday Night Football all eyes were on Tom Brady and Cam Newton. Neither of those men disappointed in a classic Monday Night Football thriller.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe game marked the Patriots' first game in 14 days, and it also marked the return of Shane Vereen and Aqib Talib for the Patriots.
Even with the return to health of some of Brady's top weapons, the Patriots' offense was far from impressive in the first half, managing just 123 yards through the air and no touchdowns.
The Patriots appeared to be on the inside track to get on the board first early in the first quarter but relinquished the opportunity due to a Greg Hardy sack. On the sack, the Patriots' offensive line appeared to confuse their assignment as Nate Solder was unable to block Hardy, allowing a free lane to Brady.
The Panthers were first to strike on Monday, with Cam Newton connecting with Brandon LaFell on a nine yard slant over the middle. The touchdown came at the end of an extremely physical drive that saw Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib and Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith renew an old NFC South rivalry, having to be separated twice on the drive.
Carolina continued the scoring with a Graham Gano 43-yard field goal to take a 10-0 lead with 6:01 left in the first half.
The Patriots were able to get on the board late in the first half on a 42-yard field goal into the strong wind for Stephen Gostkowski. Although the play seemed simple enough, it was the sure hands of punter and holder Ryan Allen that saved the play, as the snap came back low from Danny Aiken. This allowed the Patriots to go into the half trailing just 10-3
Although both quarterbacks played well in the first half, both Brady and Newton came out of the break on fire. Neither Tom Brady or Cam Newton threw an incompletion in the entire third quarter with each quarterback throwing a touchdown to their tight ends.
The Patriots started the scoring on an amazing display of power by Patriots' tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski caught a pass on the two yard line from Brady and proceeded to drag four Carolina defenders into the end zone, tying the game at 10.
Carolina responded with an impressive drive of their own, which was capped by a 15 yard Greg Olsen touchdown, but it was a third down play that set up the touchdown that left people gawking at Cam Newton. On a 3rd and 7, Newton was pressured by Rob Ninkovich, Newton proceeded to shed Ninkovich, elude five other Patriots defenders and slide in for a 14-yard gain.
With both quarterbacks continuing to amaze, the completion streak for both quarterbacks continued into the fourth quarter before Newton threw the first incompletion of the half with 11:18 left in the game.
The Patriots then put together back-to-back good drives, ending in both a Stevan Ridley touchdown and Gostkowski field goal to give the Patriots a 20-17 lead.
The Panthers responded with an emphatic drive which ended in a 25-yard Ted Ginn Jr. touchdown reception from Cam Newton. The touchdown game the Panthers a 24-20 lead with just 1:06 left on the clock. That touchdown was set up by a defensive holding penalty on Patriots safety Devin McCourty against Greg Olsen on a 3rd down incompletion, keeping the drive alive.
The Patriots were then challenged mightily by the Panthers on their final drive, being forced to complete a 4th and 10 to Rob Gronkowski with just :40 left in the game. The Patriots were then helped out by a pass interference penalty on Melvin White, putting the Patriots on the Panthers' 46 yard line.
The Patriots appeared to be helped out by the Panthers again as a flag was thrown in the end zone on a final-second interception by the Panthers, but the flag was picked up by the officials, ending the game and giving the Panthers the win, 24-20.
Postgame Notes:
Despite the Patriots playing an overall good game, the Patriots discussion following their 24-20 loss is about the final (non?) call. Was it a penalty? Why was the flag picked up after it was thrown for pass interference? ESPNBoston.com's Mike Reiss submitted a media pool report following the game to referee Clete Blakeman asking about the final call. The report read:
"Mike Reiss: I guess the first question is what was seen on the last play to initially have the official throw the flag?
Clete Blakeman: The back judge saw that there was contact and the defender was not playing the ball and that led him to throw for defensive pass inference, was the initial call.
MR: The follow-up naturally, what was discussed to then pick up the flag?
CB: There were two officials that came in. One was the umpire and the other one was our side judge and there was a discussion at that point as to the, in essence, the catchability of the ball due to its location. So it was determined at that point in time that when the primary contact occurred on the tight end that the ball, in essence, was coming in underthrown and in essence it was immediate at that point intercepted at the front end of the end zone. So there was a determination that, in essence, uncatchability, that the ball was intercepted at or about the same time the primary contact against the receiver occurred.
Joe Person: Have you guys had a chance to review it yet and what were your thoughts on the review?
CB: Two things, yeah, we have video in the room, the TV on in the locker room, so yeah, we all saw it, looked at it and that was, in essence, it pretty much mirrored the discussion that occurred. Terrence Miles, our back judge, saw the contact, he saw what he saw, and threw on it. And then the discussion came in with respect to the ball and its location and the defender who ultimately basically undercut the play and intercepted it at the, in essence, the middle to the front part of the end zone.
JP: Are you confident it was the right call?
CB: Yeah, in review, yeah. I think so. I’m pleased that…well, two situations. You never like to end the game with some controversy like that on a call, but I’m pleased that our officiating crew got together and communicated and discussed it and, ultimately, I believe we got it right. So that to me is the part that is coming away from it. I’m pleased that our crew was able to discuss it and make the call right.
MR: Is there anything else you want to mention?
CB: Nothing else."
There is little doubt that the play will be debated throughout the week, but the Patriots overall played a good game against the Panthers.
Some of the highlights for the Patriots included the return of Shane Vereen. Vereen caught a team-high eight passes on 11 targets for 65 yards. Tom Brady was also very sharp for the Patriots, finishing 29-40 for 297 yards with one touchdown and an interception, which came on the contreversial final play. Brady completed 13 consecutive passes to start the second half and did not have an imcompletion in the second half until there was just 6:42 remaining in the game..
