It was more defensive holding, than pass interference, which I believe is only a 5-yard penalty.
You are correct. However they can’t end the game on a defensive penalty so Pats would have gained 5 yards and have one play left. Not a fan of either team but these Refs are all part of the NFL’s plan for “parity’.
If the ball was not in the air, then I agree you could call it holding.
But, you know something? I hate inerference calls in the end zone. Half the time, they’re staged and set up by the quarterback.
I was amazed it was a national game and NE was not the home team. Had they been, the penalty would have been sustained.
Occurred in the end zone so ball on the one. The Pats have a goal line play where a tightend comes back to the location where the ball will be delivered. I suspect that is the play they tried to run and the Panther linebacker, being a student of his opponents inclinations positioned himself so that Gronk could not get back tot he goal line for the pass.
No, a defensive holding call is normally a 15 yard penalty or half the distance to the goal, and is an automatic first down.