I thought the replacement refs had retired? On the last play of the game last night on Monday Night football with the Patriots on the Panthers’ 18 yard line, Tom Brady threw a pass intended for tight end Rob Gronkowski. Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly was holding Gronk and he couldn’t come back to the ball and catch it in the end zone. Rookie Robert Lester, from ‘Bama, intercepted the ball in the end zone which sealed the Panthers victory over the Patriots, 24-20.
But it wasn’t over. Back judge Terrence Mills had thrown a flag for interference. But after conferring with side judge Greg Meyer and umpire Garth (Wayne’s World?) DeFelice, Mills picked up the flag. The ref consultant whom ESPN asked to explain the ruling took up for the refs and said Gronk couldn’t have gotten to the ball; that the ball was uncatchable. Of course he couldn’t get to the ball; he was being held by Kuechly. Bakeman gave no explanation for it and just said there was no foul and the game was over. In one of the most important games of the year, the refs proved their incompetence again. These guys are fine at times, but they blew a very important call that could have easily given the Patriots a shot at winning the game. The Pats would have had the ball on the one on the last play of the game. A game can’t end on a defensive penalty.
In Bakeman’s jumbled explanation of the call, he said “in essence” three times in a paragraph. What you do? It’s over and can’t be changed. The Panthers and Patriots both played a terrific Monday Night game, but the call was blown and the Patriots were robbed of a highly significant victory in their quest of getting home field in the playoffs. The Chiefs are now 9-1, the Broncos are 9-1 and the Pats and Colts are 7-3. The Bengals are 7-4. It was a huge game for both teams. The Panthers are now 7-3 and are one back of the Saints in the NFC South with two games against the Saints in December. The Saints are 8-2. Cam played an awesome game and threw the game winning 25-yard TD pass to Ted Ginn Jr. with 1:09 left in the game. Cam finished the night 19-of-28 for 209 yards, with three TDs, no interceptions, and a 125.4 passer rating. Those are excellent numbers. Brady was 29-of-40 for 296 yards with one TD and one interception, Lester’s on the final play of the game. His passer rating was 91.2.
Excellent victory for the Panthers, tough for the Patriots. Patriots had all their playmakers back on offense, but Carolina plays really good defense and the Patriots just can’t get it done on defense when it counts. Brady and company moved the ball well on the Panthers, particularly in the second half, but he does that on everybody. But Cam and the Panthers made a few more plays when it counted. And Clete Bakeman’s crew sealed the Patriots’ fate on a pathetically bad call, which was actually called, but rescinded by back judge Terrence Mills. If nothing else, it was defensive holding on the play. Interference was certainly in play too.
The Panthers are an excellent football team. They have a chance to go deep this year, very deep, with their defense and if Cam can play like that. Cam also ran it seven times for 62 yards including a beautiful third down run for 24 yards when it looked like he was sacked twice. He played so well. Patriots are good on offense, but they don’t look like they play enough defense to go the distance. Peyton @ Brady Sunday Night on Sunday Night football on NBC. Can’t wait for that.