So much about one play during Monday night’s Panthers victory against Washington was the same as it ever was.
Big, rumbling quarterback Cam Newton was scrambling during the first half and slid. As he did, linebacker Trent Murphy appeared to tackle him with helmet-to-helmet contact.
That portion of the play was not flagged.
Something else that was identical to a past incident?
The crew.
Walt Coleman was the lead official, and his crew was the same as that for the Panthers’ home game against the Arizona Cardinals this season, during which defensive lineman Calais Campbell hit Newton below the knees, a play that went without a flag on Campbell.