Sure, the Carolina Panthers didn't play the cleanest game in their Week 9 loss to the Denver Broncos. But they certainly didn't get any help from all the dirty laundry, or lack thereof, from the officials on Sunday.
The most egregious call, or non-call, came late in the third quarter with the Panthers up 14-13. Odd play-calling aside, an incompletion on a first-and-goal from the Broncos' 1-yard line would be controversially overturned into an interception on what many initially believed to be a late challenge by head coach Sean Payton.
As it turns out, the red flag did come out before the next play from Carolina was run. What really should be in question is what the refs were seeing when Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble was interfered with by
linebacker Justin Strnad . . .
Perfect place at the perfect time!
— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2026
Devon Key with an improbable INT for the @Broncos!
DENvsCAR on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/AnjjfvlHFi
From there, Denver went on a 13-0 run off back-to-back touchdown drives to keep the game out of reach.
Tremble was asked about the play after the 26-21 defeat . . .
Tommy Tremble says he’s never seen a home team continuously play a replay that didn’t benefit it. Also, thought he was interfered with (he was). pic.twitter.com/1GN7ZWcMVO
— Joe Person (@josephperson) November 8, 2026
On top of that, the Broncos were not penalized for ripping off the helmet of tight end Felipe Franks nor for a few very late hits by linebacker Alex Singleton. Oh, there was also this one—on the Panthers' last breath of the contest—in the fourth quarter . . .
Clear offsides https://t.co/F3ibg1E9B1 pic.twitter.com/bT9mPTCTyC
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) November 8, 2026
The Panthers did wind up getting a first down on this particular play, so that miss wasn't incredibly damaging. It was the next snap, which resulted in a strip-sack of quarterback Bryce Young, that did them in.
By day's end, Carolina was flagged 13 times for a total of 119 yards. Denver, meanwhile, drew eight whistles for 50 yards.
Ultimately, however, the Panthers made too many of their own mistakes to pin this one solely on the refs.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Did Broncos get away with several key non-calls in their Week 9 win over Panthers?
