It was the game of the year in the NFL. It featured an electric performance from one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady, and the signature game of Cam Newton's young career.
On NFL Network
NFL Replay
will re-air the
Carolina Panthers' 24-20 win over the
New England Patriots from Week 11 on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 9 p.m. ET.
And yet it will be remembered for a controversial non-call on the game's final play.
The Carolina Panthers outlasted the New England Patriots24-20 Monday night after the officials picked up a penalty flag on a throw in the end zone from Brady to Rob Gronkowski. Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, with his back to the ball, appeared to clearly hold Gronkowski while the ball was in the air. A flag was thrown, but the officials deemed that it was not a penalty after a quick conference.
"There is no foul on the play," was the official explanation given during the game.
After the game, referee Clete Blakeman said in a pool report released to the media href=""> that Brady's throw was deemed uncatchable. Blakeman stood by the non-call.
Brady came storming after the officials looking for an answer, using an expletive that was caught by the television microphones. Don't be surprised if Brady is fined. Deeming the ball uncatchable was a questionable decision at best. Brady calmed down by the time he met the press and noted he made a poor throw.
"There was no explanation given to me," a terse Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after the game. "The officials ran off the field. I didn't see anything. ... I've gone through that before. Last time I tried to ask an official a question about a call, that was the wrong thing to do. So I have no idea."
If pass interference was called, the Patriots would have received one final do-or-die play to win the game from the 1-yard line. There's no guarantee they would have won the game.
The controversial ending takes nothing away from a sterling performance by Newton, who authored two gorgeoustouchdown drives in the second half. It was the kind of prime-time effort by Newton that we've all been waiting for.
Still, we can't help but think about another Monday Night classic that ended with the focus on the officials after a blown call. Just like the Fail Mary, this is a game we'll remember for a long, long time.
We recapped every Week 11 game on the latest "Around The League Podcast."
