NFL Ref Explains Controversial OPI Call on Tetairoa McMillan in Panthers' Loss to Bucs

NFL referee Brad Allen provided an explanation regarding the offensive pass interference penalty on Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan during the Panthers' 16-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.

"The covering official saw that the receiver created separation more than one-yard downfield, which by rule is illegal and is offensive pass interference," Allen said in a pool report after the game.

In the third quarter of Saturday's contest, Bryce Young connected with McMillan on a 32-yard pass. The play was nullified due to the penalty, though.

Instead of advancing into Tampa Bay's territory with a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown, Carolina was eventually forced to punt.

The flag was controversial, with several former players believing that the contact wasn't enough to warrant a penalty.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales declined to comment on the call when speaking to reporters after the loss.

"I don't really want to get into that because we just didn't play well enough, offensively speaking," Canales said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "We didn't get our run game going. A bad day on third down, which doesn't give us an opportunity to extend the drives and really have a balanced offense the way that we can play. Some missed opportunities out there. So it really just has to be on us and about the execution and all of us making sure we're, you know, in the right plays at the right time."

McMillan finished the game with four catches for a team-high 85 yards, including a fourth-down grab that helped set the Panthers up for a late touchdown to pull within striking distance.

Carolina wouldn't get another opportunity to posses the ball until just 18 seconds remained in the fourth quarter, though. The Panthers were ultimately unable to generate a last-second touchdown.

Carolina and Tampa Bay now own identical 8-9 records, leaving the fate of the NFC South up to the clash between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

If the Falcons win and improve to 8-9, the Panthers clinch the division title due to a three-way tiebreaker. If New Orleans wins, Tampa Bay would secure the NFC South crown in a tiebreaker with Carolina.