The Green Bay Packers narrowly beat the Carolina Panthers 33-30 on Sunday, prompting some rather bitter commentary from veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.
The Packers managed to win thanks to some controversial officiating late in the fourth quarter on a catch that set up a 32-yard field goal by Anders Carlson with 19 seconds to go. After the game, Thielen suggested those kinds of calls are par for the course when facing Green Bay.
“I thought they had some questionable calls in the game, but usually that’s what you get when you play the Packers. I played the Packers a lot of times. That’s usually what you get,” Thielen said.
Thielen and the Panthers were angry because they felt they had succeeded in spiking the ball with one second remaining in the fourth quarter, which would have allowed Carolina to attempt a game-tying 48-yard field goal. Officials ruled that the spike came after the game clock had hit zero.
The Panthers were also unconvinced that a big catch by Romeo Doubs that kept Green Bay’s game-winning drive moving should have been allowed to stand. The play was called a catch on the field and upheld on review.
Before joining the Panthers, Thielen had spent his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings, so he has had plenty of clashes with the Packers. He sounds a bit sour here, but it would not be the first time he has said something that turned out fairly regrettable.
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