Mike Carey wrong again?! Panthers' first challenge fails on drop

Mike Carey jinxed Jerricho Cotchery and the Carolina Panthers.

With the Panthers backed up at their own 15-yard line, Cam Newton dropped back to pass midway through the first quarter of Super Bowl 50 and drilled a pretty pass to Cotchery, who bobbled the pass but appeared to haul it in after getting tackled by the Denver Broncos' Darian Stewart.

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But the call on the field was incomplete, which Panthers coach Ron Rivera quickly challenged. During a short look at the replay, Carey — the former NFL ref and current CBS analyst, who has a notoriously horrific batting average on live-broadcast first guesses — immediately praised Rivera and said there was no evidence of the ball coming loose and hitting the turf.

So naturally, as he has been so often this season, Carey was wrong. The replay confirmed the call on the field.

What did they see? The tip of the ball hit the field, but it looked to be in control by the receiver. The referees disagreed.

It turned out to be massive. Yes, the Panthers lost a timeout, but two plays later was an even bigger gaffe.  Newton was strip sacked by Von Miller, and the fumble was recovered in the end zone by Malik Jackson for a touchdown and a stunning 10-0 Broncos lead.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm