Controversial Overturned Call and Challenge Flag Error Help Broncos Defeat Panthers

“Challenge it!”

As the Carolina Panthers lined up for a second-and-goal at the Denver 1-yard line late in the third quarter, Sean Payton heard a frantic voice screaming in his headset, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

That voice belonged to Broncos director of game management and assistant quarterbacks coach Evan Rothstein. His game-day duties include quickly reviewing replays and relaying insights directly to Payton. With Panthers quarterback Bryce Young preparing to take the snap from center, Payton did not hesitate. He pulled the red challenge flag from his back right pocket and hurled it onto the field, risking a timeout to trust his staff.

The Panthers snapped the ball anyway. Young handed off to running back Chuba Hubbard, who was stopped for no gain.

THAT’S AN INT 📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/w46K3YBkq4

— Post by @Broncos on X

New York Officials Overturn Play After Challenge Flag Review

Then came the whistles and several moments of confusion on the field. Officials gathered to confer before speaking with the NFL officiating office in New York. They ultimately determined that Payton had indeed thrown his challenge flag before Young took the snap, which successfully nullified the second-down play.

“That was a hard one for any one of us to see, and my concern was, Was anyone able to see that I threw it before the play was snapped?” Payton said afterward, as reported by the Associated Press. “And fortunately, New York can.”

Panthers lose third-straight game after challenge flag controversy

After reviewing the sequence, officials overturned what was initially ruled an incompletion on first down, turning it into a momentum-shifting interception for the Broncos. Denver went on to win the game 26-21.

“Replay can get involved to make sure that the head coach throws his challenge flag prior to the next snap,” NFL vice president of instant replay Mark Butterworth explained in a pool report published by the Associated Press. “We were actually able to use angles to show that the flag was out prior to the ball being snapped, and so we permitted the challenge.”

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CBS, which broadcast the game nationally, did not show any television replays of when Payton dropped the flag relative to the snap.

“They confirmed that he did throw the challenge flag before we snapped the ball on that very next play,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said, according to the Associated Press. “I’ve got to go on their word.”

Carolina Panthers lose to Denver Broncos after controversial call

The Play That Sparked the Chaos

The disputed sequence involved a pass from Young to the left corner of the end zone that twice hit tight end Tommy Tremble in the hands. The second touch happened while Tremble was flat on his back. Replays showed the ball never actually touched the ground. Broncos safety Devon Key alertly bent over and snatched the football before it hit the turf.

Key stated that he knew he caught the ball and his first instinct was to run it out of the end zone, but officials blew the play dead.

Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers Game Highlights | 2026 NFL Season Week 9

Carolina fans watching the stadium scoreboard replay loudly booed because they believed Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad made illegal contact with Tremble before the catch attempt. However, officials threw no flag for pass interference.

“I had two officials that had a great look at the play,” referee Alan Eck said in a pool report cited by the Associated Press. “They felt the defender arrived at the same time as the pass. We refer to that as a bang-bang play. They felt the timing was fine. The official ruling on the field was an incomplete pass.”

Tremble noted after the game that he thought officials blew the whistle to check for pass interference. Under NFL rules, however, officials cannot enforce penalties via replay review if they were not initially flagged on the field.

How the Game Ended

Trailing 14-13 at the time of the overturned call, the Broncos capitalized on the turnover by scoring on their next two possessions to take command. Carolina mounted a late comeback attempt, but it ended when edge rusher Nik Bonitto sacked Bryce Young, sealing Denver’s fifth straight victory.

In the locker room after the game, Payton awarded game balls to both Rothstein and Key.