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Carolina Panthers Record A Loss: Can Football’s Defending 2016 NFC Champions Still Win Super Bowl 51?

By Jason Fletcher
Published on: 03:50 PST, Sep 9, 2016

The Carolina Panthers traveled to Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium looking to record a season-opening win against the Denver Broncos in a rematch of Super Bowl 50, also won by the Broncos. The Panthers did everything in their power to come away with a victory, but kicker Graham Gano’s last-second 50-yard field goal attempt was wide-left and the Broncos were victorious, 21-20.

In the first half, both teams played rather sloppily as the Broncos turned the ball over three times inside the 30-yard-line. On the opening drive, rookie running back Devontae Booker fumbled at the Panthers’ 29-yard-line and the ball was recovered by Carolina linebacker Shaq Thompson.

The Panthers offense would take over from there as Cam Newton orchestrated an eight-play 71-yard drive that resulted in a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin, who was playing in his first game since tearing the ACL in his left knee during 2015 training camp. The Panthers rushed for 40 yards on the drive, and Newton finished 2-of-3 for 31 yards and the touchdown.

On the ensuing Broncos drive, quarterback Trevor Siemian led his team right down the field once again, but a tipped pass resulted in an interception by Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis. Davis returned the ball to the Carolina 36 yard line.

Following a three-and-out by the Panthers offense, the Broncos would find the equalizer on a five-play 80-yard drive that was capped by a 28-yard touchdown run by fullback Andy Janovich. Denver rushed for a whopping 65 of the 80 yards on the drive with both C.J. Anderson and Janovich busting off 28-yard runs.

The Carolina Panthers would then record a massive 18-play 89-yard drive that took 9:15 off the clock and resulted in a two-yard touchdown run by Cam Newton to put the Panthers ahead 14-7. Cam and the offense were a perfect four-for-four on third-downs on the drive, which helped keep the chains moving.

Following a three-and-out by the Broncos’ offense, the Panthers would get the ball back with 1:45 remaining in the first-half. Newton would lead a seven-play 52-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to put Carolina ahead 17-7 heading into the break.

Both teams struggled in the third quarter before the Broncos finally scored on a 25-yard screen pass from Siemian to Anderson on the first play of the fourth quarter which made the score 17-14. Siemian was a perfect six-for-six on the drive as he displayed poise and accuracy from the pocket.

Following an interception by Broncos corner Chris Harris Jr. on the ensuing Panthers drive, Anderson punched it in from one yard out to put the Broncos ahead 21-17 with 9:26 left in the game. Despite getting the ball at the Carolina 23-yard-line, it took Denver 10 plays to get into the end-zone.

The Panthers would respond to the Broncos touchdown drive with a 10-play 57-yard drive that resulted in a Graham Gano 36-yard field goal to cut the Denver lead to 21-20. Newton had a pass intended for Devin Funchess tipped by Denver corner Aqib Talib on third-and-five that resulted in the field goal attempt.

After the Carolina Panthers’ defense recorded a three-and-out, Cam Newton and the offense got one last shot to win the game. Newton took shot after shot from the Broncos’ defense but got up every time and eventually set the Gano up for a 50-yard game-winning field goal attempt. Head coach Gary Kubiak chose to ice Gano by calling a timeout prior to the first attempt which Gano hit. On the second, Gano pulled it wide-left and the Broncos emerged victorious.

Overall, the Carolina Panthers didn’t record their best effort. The offensive line was shaky at times, the defensive line was pretty well dominated for most of the game, and the inexperience in the secondary showed at crucial moments. All of that being said, the Panthers still nearly defeated the defending Super Bowl champions on the road.

It would’ve been nice for the Panthers to begin the season 1-0 as opposed to 0-1, but this team still has plenty of talent to win the NFC South, win the NFC and win Super Bowl 51. If you’re a Carolina Panthers fan, don’t give up on your team after this one loss, as they’ll be fine as they season progresses.

[Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images]

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