Did the panthers get screwed?

This item first appeared in our morning newsletter, which is delivered Monday through Saturday to more than 7,000 smart subscribers in the Charlotte area. You can become one of them.

NFL referees may have been wrong for penalizing D.J. Moore’s late-game touchdown celebration on Sunday.

Moore’s celebration — he took off his helmet — resulted in a 15-yard penalty, which was followed by a missed extra point attempt by kicker Eddy Pineiro, which would’ve given the team the lead with 12 seconds left. 

NBC rules analyst Terry McAulay, an NFL referee for 20 seasons, disagreed with the call.

McAulay, citing the 2022 NFL Rulebook, said Moore should not have been penalized because he was not on the field when he removed his helmet.

Penalty or not, Pineiro missed a field goal attempt in overtime that also could have secured a Panthers victory.