Carolina Panthers

Graham Gano misses game-winning field goal vs. Broncos (Video)

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano missed a potential game-winning 50-yard field goal wide left against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night at Mile High.

It’s tough to lose this way, but the Carolina Panthers fall on the road in Week 1 to the Denver Broncos, as Panthers kicker Graham Gano missed a potential game-winning 50-yard field goal wide left.

Wide Left. #Kickoff2016 https://t.co/Qp7D9mzRc0

— NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2016

Carolina was in control of the game for easily three quarters. Though the Wade Phillips Denver defense was stifling, the Broncos struggled to generate enough offense behind first-year starter Trevor Siemian.

Denver would score on back-to-back drives with Siemian and running back C.J. Anderson leading the Broncos. Anderson’s goal-line touchdown run would give the Broncos a 21-17 lead, which they never relinquished even after Carolina narrowed the score to 21-20 with a field goal.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did everything in his power to lead a game-winning drive for Carolina, but the Broncos defense was too much to overcome. Newton would take a punishment in this game, but had the Panthers in line for a long field-goal attempt as time expired.

Gano had been a reliable kicker for the Panthers in 2015, but a 50-yard field goal in Denver is tough for any professional kicker. Denver head coach Gary Kubiak iced Gano on his first attempt from 50 yards.

That would work out marvelously for the Broncos, as Gano hooked his next attempt wide left of the uprights. Denver got the ball back with a few seconds left on the clock. Siemian and the Broncos went into victory formation and sealed the deal over Carolina with a 21-20 Week 1 victory.

Carolina is still presumably the best team in the NFC South. Denver seems like it will be able to hang in a deep AFC West with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders. For the first night of 2016 NFL action, this game didn’t not disappoint.