2016 NFL Opener Stirs Up Mind-Boggling Controversy (UPDATED)

The NFL season got off to an interesting start as the Denver Broncos began their Super Bowl L title defense.

The Broncos edged the Carolina Panthers 21-20 thanks to a missed field goal attempt by Graham Gano from 50-yards away with nine seconds left in the game.

Trevor Siemian made his first career start, going 18/26 for 176 yards, one TD, two INTs, and five rushes for 20 yards. Although the stat line isn’t perfect, it was still an impressive start against a very tough Panthers defense.

At one point it seemed as if the Panthers were going to start pulling away from the hosts, taking a 17-7 lead into halftime. In 2015, their defense only allowed 88.4 rushing yards per game but the second half would see them slowly get chipped away, letting go of 148 rushing yards. Despite this, the Panthers defense did what it could to give the offense a chance at winning this game.

Running back C.J. Anderson was a key piece in the Broncos’ success on the ground, getting 20 carries for 98 yards and a TD. FB Andy Janovich had himself a memorable game. The first carry of his career, and only carry of the game, went for 26 yards and a TD. Siemian did what he could to help win this game on the offensive side of the ball. It was an all around effort on offense.

Yet, this victory will be overshadowed by the egregious headhunting by the Broncos defense on Cam Newton.

Newton was having himself a decent game, becoming the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 44. It was going well until he was first hit above the shoulders early on in the third quarter.

This one can slide as DeMarcus Ware knocked Newton into Von Miller, and the contact looked more incidental than intentional. Newton would go down and get checked on the sidelines, and was back out just a few minutes later when the Panthers forced the Broncos offense to punt.

Things went downhill from there, as the hits got a little out of hand.

As you can see, Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall lunges straight to the head of Newton. Yet, there was no call.

Near the end of the game, Broncos safety Darian Stewart clearly made helmet-to-helmet contact with Newton and it was the only hit to the head that was called all game. Unfortunately for Newton, his throw failed to make it back to the line of scrimmage and was called for intentional grounding. Therefore, the penalties were offset.

There were at least four hits to Newton’s head. Ware’s hit could be overlooked, but three other hits were obvious and quite blatant. Only one was called but ended up being offset because of Newton’s intentional grounding.

In a time where player safety has become a “priority” for the NFL, this game was an absolute disaster for the officials. Although Newton is a mobile quarterback, one cannot argue that he is to be treated as a runner at all times. The rules do not work that way,  and a hit to the head is simply that. No other way around it.

This then brings me around to the Panthers medical staff. When your quarterback has been hit on the noggin several times, how do you not put him through the concussion protocol?

Newton, being the good sport that he is, tried to play this off during his postgame press conference.

https://twitter.com/DTang0426/status/774109856248672256

Calls like this should not be missed, Cam. No, it’s not okay and it should not be excused.

While Newton was diplomatic in his response when asked about the officiating, his teammates were not as restrained:

Deadspin’s Patrick Redford also published a piece shortly after Newton’s press conference that shows that the reigning NFL MVP does not remember the end of the game he just played. To be fair, Newton was asked if he remembered who had asked him questions and what the questions were about – things that would be easily forgotten in the intensity of a late-game comeback bid.

Redford would also go on to publish another piece, suggesting that the Broncos were indeed headhunting. In all reality, it’s difficult to disagree and just as difficult to disprove with all of the hits that were made.

As CBS Sports’ Will Brinson pointed out, the NFL will have to do something about what went on throughout this game.

The blatant missed calls bring up many question marks as to how Newton should be played and what the officials treated him as. Was he a quarterback or a runner, and after taking that into consideration, how should the rules be applied?

If the NFL does indeed believe in player safety, we should see some fines very soon. There should also be an inquiry as to why Newton was not checked out earlier in the game, which could lead to further tension between the league and the NFLPA:

NFL, you have some work to do.

UPDATE: After returning to Charlotte, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera had this to say about the team following concussion protocol.

Just for kicks, Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams provided readers some insight as to what went on with the refs. Suffice to say that there is no love lost between Williams and the league’s front office.