Caption + Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian looks for an open pass during the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers season opener at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Thursday, September 8, 2016.
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It’s a clichéd phrase, but it was too true Thursday night.
A lot had changed since the Broncos shut down Newton and Co.in the big game back in February, most notably that quarterback situation after Manning tipped his cap to Father Time and called it a career, while his presumed heir apparent, Osweiler, called his banker to cash a big check from the Houston Texans in free agency.
The start of a new season rekindled some old – and troubling – issues for the NFL.
His quarterback, Cam Newton, said he believed Gano would do just that.
A wobbled Newton appeared to have done just enough to get a measure of revenge for that bludgeoning in Super Bowl 50, when Miller stripped the ball and the Lombardi Trophy from his grasp.
Three of the hits were of the helmet-to-helmet variety but none resulted in any penalty yardage. None were held out. Newton connected with 18 of 33 passes for 194 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
We’ll have up-to-the-minute scoring and stats here throughout the game. He was sacked three times and hit on several other occasions, including at least four helmet-to-helmet hits, one of which was flagged for unnecessary roughness.
Gronkowski was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, and the Patriots will release two more practice reports this week.
And this doesn’t count all the times Newton gets hit while throwing or rushing. The Panthers had a 17-7 lead at halftime, and Siemian was picked off again in the Broncos’ first possession in the third quarter when, in the face of a blitz, he couldn’t step into the throw.
With under 40 seconds left, Broncos safety Darian Stewart went helmet-to-helmet with Newton.
“It’s not my job to question the officials”, Newton said. Tight end Greg Olsen nailed it, noting the officials don’t treat Newton like a normal quarterback, instead giving him the Shaquille O’Neal treatment because he’s bigger and stronger than anyone else.
Once the game got going, Cam Newton would lead his team to a 17-7 lead, rushing for one touchdown. “I know he’s the biggest guy on the field but he’s still the quarterback”.
Had that roughing call stood, Carolina would’ve had the ball in field goal range with a few more plays to move closer.
“I was going to drill it, no doubt in my mind”, Gano said.
As for all the hits that didn’t draw a flag, Newton just shrugged. They were underdogs, in Las Vegas and in the eyes of National Football League media. There’s was also a matter of hits to the head. The Broncos came away with the victory over the Carolina Panthers – a first for Trevor Siemian, who until Thursday was an untested signal caller. Peyton Manning’s successor finished 18-of-26 passing for 178 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. But in the first game of the 2016 season, the officiating crew threw caution to the wind and repeatedly let Broncos defenders launch themselves at a quarterback’s head with no repercussions. “They did a good job of chipping and double-teaming me, but we knew they couldn’t play a whole game like that. You’ve got to bounce back from it”.
RETURN OF THE FULLBACK: Turns out, the fullback position didn’t go into complete extinction in the NFL. When Gano made his first kick, he hit the right upright and it bounced in.
One rush, one 28-yard touchdown. Pro Bowl cornerback Chris Harris was no match for the 6-foot-5 receiver on Newton’s lone touchdown pass, which saw Benjamin use his impressive frame to box out Harris and make the contested catch in the end zone. He got involved early with a 14-yard TD catch from Newton.
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Carolina head coach Ron Rivera, in his sixth year coaching the Panthers, is 47-32 since taking over, buoyed by the team’s NFL-best 15-1 mark last year. “Start thinking about the next one”, said Rivera, whose team plays San Francisco on September 18.
