The Carolina Panthers led the Denver Broncos 14-13 late in the third quarter Sunday and had first-and-goal at the Denver 1-yard line when quarterback Bryce Young's pass was ruled incomplete.
They had already snapped the ball for the next play when a Denver challenge turned the pass into an interception. The Broncos scored the next two touchdowns and won 26-21 at Bank of America Stadium.
"I've never seen someone run a play full through and then get a challenge for a previous play," Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble said.
Officials told Panthers coach Dave Canales that Denver coach Sean Payton's challenge flag was out before that snap, and Mark Butterworth, the NFL's vice president of instant replay, said in a pool interview that the angles showed it. "That one was the first that I can ever recall like that," Payton said of how close his flag came to the snap.
On Monday, asked whether he had seen video showing Payton's flag out before the snap, Canales said, "I have not, but I was told that they confirmed it."
After safety Devon Key's interception, Denver drove 80 yards for a touchdown, then quarterback Bo Nix threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to receiver Pat Bryant, and the Broncos led 26-14 with 5:41 left.
The Panthers got one more chance. Young threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tetairoa McMillan with 3:05 left to make it 26-21, and Carolina got the ball back at its own 44 with 1:49 to play. Young hit McMillan for 20 yards. Then Denver outside linebacker Nik Bonitto sacked him and knocked the ball loose at the Denver 44, and Bonitto recovered with 1:18 left. Replay upheld the fumble. "No matter what, if the ball is in my hands we need to have it the next play," Young said.
It was the Panthers' third straight loss, and they are 3-5, tied with the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, according to the NFL's standings. It was also their first game since they parted ways with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, with Todd Wash calling the defense as interim coordinator.
Penalties hurt them early. Carolina was penalized 13 times for 119 yards, 101 of them before halftime. Cornerbacks Corey Thornton and Marco Wilson, both elevated from the practice squad, drew six accepted flags for 79 yards between them. After watching the film, Canales said Monday, his view of the penalty calls had not changed. "Those calls can go either way," he said. "We have to be cleaner certainly with the penalties," he added, but "I never want to call our guys off of aggressive play."
Young finished 28 of 39 for 276 yards and three touchdowns, and Carolina outgained Denver 353 yards to 312.
Canales said Monday that receiver Xavier Legette's window to return to practice from injured reserve will open this week. Legette went on injured reserve with a knee injury Oct. 3, according to the team. The Panthers play at New Orleans on Sunday at 1 p.m.
"Yesterday was pretty good, not good enough," Canales said Monday.