Carolina Panthers: Did refs end their season too?
Controversial decisions by referees have played a major part in the 2015 NFL playoffs to this point.
This past weekend during a Divisional Round matchup that pitted the Dallas Cowboys against the Green Bay Packers in the frozen tundra known as Lambeau Field, controversy was at it’s highest on a critical play in the fourth quarter. Check it out for yourself:
After originally being ruled a catch by Dez Bryant, the call was overturned after review because of what has become known as the “Calvin Johnson” rule.
Hey, I don’t like it as much as the next guy, but technically it was the correct call. Still, it just doesn’t feel right. So instead of having first and goal from the one, it became Packers’ ball and the Cowboys’ chances diminished instantaneously.
The previous week during the Wildcard Round, the Dallas Cowboys were on the beneficial end of one such call. A critical pass interference flag late in the game was inexplicably picked up. Had it stood, the Detroit Lions would have had first and ten as opposed to being forced to punt on fourth down. They could have used up significantly more clock and would have potentially tacked on a field goal.
You hate to say the refs cost anyone the game, but you sure would like to see the most important plays involve the players as opposed to the officials.
The call from the Detroit-Dallas game raises more attention, as it affected multiple games.
Had the call been made and the Lions pulled out the win, both NFC Divisional round games would have changed. Because the Carolina Panthers were a higher seed than the Lions, the Panthers would have been matched up with the Packers and the Lions would have been the ones traveling to the Pacific Northwest.
Oct 19, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback
Cam Newton(1) during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Could this have shaken up the NFC Championship game participants? It’s possible. The Panthers very well could be preparing for another game instead of clearing out their lockers.
Now, this isn’t to say that the Packers are an easy win, not by any means. In fact, the Packers had already beaten the Panthers decisively earlier in the season.
That being said, Carolina was a significantly different team (literally and figuratively) the last few weeks compared to their earlier meeting with the Cheese Heads. Also, Aaron Rodgers is currently dealing with a relatively significant injury that has clearly affected his mobility.
The Carolina Panthers just match up better with the Packers than the Seattle Seahawks. But to be fair, no one matches up well with the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field, particularly at night. I still say the League picked Seattle the moment it was made a night game, but that’s a conversation for another day.
With a gimpy Aaron Rodgers, the Panthers’ defense would have had as good a shot as anyone at shutting down Green Bay’s offense.
When the two teams first played, the defense in Carolina was ranked near the bottom of the league. However, after a flurry of changes that included the insertion of rookies Bene Benwikere and Tre Boston into the starting lineup, that vaunted defense returned to form and finished the season ranked tenth overall.
It would have been interesting to see how this revamped unit looked against the Packers team that torched them a few weeks prior.
It’s a stretch to suggest that these series of events would have led to the Panthers being in the NFC Championship game. I’ll admit that. But hey, let a grieving fan do what it takes to heal, okay?
Considering Carolina would have been matched up with Seattle in Seattle for the title game anyway, maybe it’s a good thing the refs picked up that flag, as the 25th pick in the upcoming draft is low enough.
Still, you never know what could have happened.
Regardless, this Panthers team showed a tremendous amount of heart to not only make the playoffs, but win a playoff game as well after so many had written them off.