And who could blame you? After all, Denver's starting quarterback was Trevor Siemian, a seventh-round pick from Northwestern (a school I attended — so I know how weird that is) who had never thrown a pass in a previous regular-season game. When Siemian tossed two picks (supplemented by a fumble courtesy of Devontae Booker in his first carry) against a Panthers squad ultra-motivated by having to watch the Broncos celebrate their Super Bowl 50 victory in pre-game ceremonies, anyone would have thought the deal was done.
But, no: Siemian shook off his mistakes to lead Denver back from a ten-point deficit, and the vaunted defense tightened up in the second half, holding QB Cam Newton and Carolina to a single field goal until the final seconds. That's when kicker Graham Gano lined up for a fifty-yard boot, which he made after a time out taken to ice him, then missed wide left when it counted. Final score: Denver 21, Carolina 20.
Afterward, Panthers fans on Twitter absolutely freaked out, with much of their vitriol aimed at Gano. Below are twenty memorable examples. If you're offended by profanity, avoid them. If you're okay with it, especially if it's being spewed by livid Carolina boosters, read on.
Number 20:
How angry I am my kicker Graham Gano missed that 50 yard (5 point) field goal #FantasyFootball #CARvsDEN #CARvsDEN pic.twitter.com/iSIyx13fjn
— Frank Ybarra (@frankybarra20) September 9, 2016
Number 19:
@Panthers24_7 i am sick and tired of seeing Gano miss or get blocked. What a shit game. #Pissed
— Bobby Swarey (@BobbySwarey) September 9, 2016
Number 18:
Fuck Graham Gano man
— Jesse #Trump2016 (@EaglesJesse) September 9, 2016
Number 17:
@WBTV_News Tough game... we had our chance and CHOKED.. #Gano got iced by that timeout
— BTUS 'R' Us (@McAlpineDoug) September 9, 2016
Number 16:
wtf i'm still pissed at gano
— gina (@RENVXI) September 9, 2016
Number 15:
@mil182 Gano choked hard as fuck
— Ditkasout4harambae (@mikekleinrandr) September 9, 2016
Number 14:
Panthers lost.... fuck you Graham gano: https://t.co/FUaKVdofnx via @YouTube
— Mrstalkerify (@MrstalkerifyHD) September 9, 2016
Number 13:
This boy Graham Gano choked HARD
— Alessio (@alessi0_ibarra) September 9, 2016
Number 12:
@NickTheSlick12 now I see why you hate gano. What the fuck man..
— Thebirdmaann (PS4) (@Mwerlinger11) September 9, 2016
Number 11:
Continue to keep counting down the top tweets by Panthers fans pissed at how their team lost to the Broncos.Keep it hot in not even that mad at gano I'm pissed at everybody else it shouldn't have even come to that
— Quan (@IneedaMill) September 9, 2016
Number 10:
Stress me the hell out bruh! Gano you lived up to your nickname "onions" cause you made me cry....what the fuck???? #CARvsDEN
— sherolette Samuels (@Samtha1984) September 9, 2016
Number 9:
Gano owes everyone a big apology, especially Cam. Fuck sake
— Jay Cryer (@YeahhhhhBoy) September 9, 2016
Number 8:
Graham Gano just choked worse than BRabbit on his first battle
— Andrew Watson (@AWatson22) September 9, 2016
Number 7:
They iced Gano with that time out fuck the broncos
— Daniel Picinic (@Dan_ballislife) September 9, 2016
Number 6:
Can't believe broncos iced my dude gano like that.. Fuck tht shit
— YOUNG LORD (@YungFraudGod) September 9, 2016
Number 5:
@london_ky smfh still pissed at this https://t.co/wOAv7r1ObH
— Quin (@GwapoRaver) September 9, 2016
Number 4:
If I was Cam, #74 and Gano can't talk to me until next Sunday. Boy I would be so pissed
— Chris Godskrilla (@TheRoyalCRK) September 9, 2016
Number 3:
Damn autocorrect I meant go fuck yourself gano!
— This Guy Said (@caramico71) September 9, 2016
Number 2:
I swear. Gano you make me so angry sometimes.
— James Stewart #MAGA? (@_james_stewart) September 9, 2016
Number 1:
Fucking done..... Good fucking night..... And again.... Fuck Gano !
— #NickSlick (@NickTheSlick12) September 9, 2016