The Carolina Panthers beat the New England Patriots 24-20 in Monday night’s game after controversy surrounding a referee’s decision ended the game.
On the last play of the game, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady launched a pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski in the end zone, who appeared to be impeded by defender Luke Kuechly. The ball fell a few yards behind Gronkowski and into the arms of a Carolina defender.
Referee Clete Blakeman immediately threw down a flag, presumably for pass interference, but then quickly swiped it back up off the field and never made an official penalty call. After the game, Blakeman explained to ESPN, “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.”
Gronkowski told press after the game that it felt to him like holding, but remained affable to the decision of the refs.
“There was a flag, but it got called back,” he said. “I don’t even know why they threw it, and there’s just no excuse. I’m not trying to be here to make excuses; [the Panthers are] a good football team, they scored more points than us and they beat us straight up.”
Brady seemed angry when leaving the field, but echoed Gronk’s neutral sentiment.
“I think there are plenty of plays we could have made,” Brady said. “But it did, and they are going to make a call or they are not going to make a call. … We can play better than that.”
The Panthers are now on a six-game winning streak, bringing their record to 7-3, the same record that the Pats have now.