Adam Gotsis makes debut as Denver Broncos win Super Bowl rematch over Carolina Panthers

AUSTRALIAN defensive tackle Adam Gotsis has had a thrilling NFL debut, seeing his first action as Denver won a Super Bowl rematch at the death against Carolina.

Adam Gotsis (L) will make his NFL debut for Denver.

AUSSIE defensive tackle Adam Gotsis has completed his first game in the NFL and it’s been a stunner, with Denver winning a Super Bowl rematch against Carolina 21-20.

Panthers kicker Graham Gano missed a 50-yard field goal that would have won the game, lining up with nine seconds left but pulling his attempt left.

The result echoed Denver’s win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50.

Gotsis became more involved as the game progressed, slotting into the reigning champions’ imperious defence.

Gotsis getting a lot of looks in the final quarter for Denver. Keep an eye out for #99 on that defensive line #NFL

— Melanie Dinjaski (@MelanieDinjaski) September 9, 2016

Gotsis first saw action in the second quarter, though he exited again immediately after.

There was @gotsis96 chasing #CamNewton out of bounds. He becomes the 12th Australian to play in the #NFL. @RSNSportRadio #CARvsDEN

— Ron Flatter (@ronflatter) September 9, 2016

Gotsis got on a few plays back, but straight back off. Hopefully get a few more looks at him in the second half, has a great motor #NFL

— Melanie Dinjaski (@MelanieDinjaski) September 9, 2016

Fox Sports Australia’s Laurie Horesh, Melanie Dinjaski and Patrick Stack whip around the action on and off the field in the NFL, looking at some of the lighter moments from the game’s biggest characters and chat to Australians leaving their footprint on the US stage. This week it’s Green Bay’s Aussie, Blake Muir!

Gotsis, 23, was taken with pick No.63 in the second round of the draft by Denver. He is Australia’s highest ever draft pick and just the 12th Aussie to play in the NFL.

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A moment that Aussie Adam Gotsis @gotsis96 (#99) will never forget. Congratulations on making it to the Big Time! pic.twitter.com/JACxFn7at5

— Jason Bennett (@Aussies_Abroad) September 9, 2016

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Denver’s dominant defense came up big against Cam Newton again and the Broncos escaped with the victory.

Newton was sacked three times and clobbered all night long, but appeared to have done just enough to get a measure of revenge for the Panthers’ loss to the Broncos seven months earlier in the Super Bowl.

Newton put the Panthers on the cusp of victory Thursday with a 21-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin at the Denver 32-yard line in the closing seconds, and another short pass to Ted Ginn Jr. put Gano well within his range.

But Gano was wide left, and Trevor Siemian trotted out to take a knee in victory formation after his first successful NFL start. “I was going to drill it, no double in my mind,” Gano said. “But this happens. It’s not going to define my season.” Siemian, who has taken over as quarterback in Denver this season following Peyton Manning’s retirement, finished 18 of 26 for 178 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Outside Linebacker Von Miller of the Denver Broncos celebrates the 21-20 win over the Carolina Panthers.

“We’ve got a heck of a team, a resilient team, I think you saw that tonight,” Siemian said.

Newton, the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player, was 18 of 33 for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Panthers took a 17-7 lead into the fourth quarter of the first Super Bowl rematch to start a season since 1970, but Siemian hit running back C.J. Anderson for a 25-yard touchdown on the next snap.

Newton’s next pass was intercepted by Harris at the Carolina 23, and 10 plays later, Anderson charged his way in from the 1-yard line to give Denver its first lead at 21-17 with 9:26 remaining. After Gano’s 36-yard field goal brought the Panthers to 21-20, Carolina forced a three-and-out and the Panthers got the ball back at their 40 with 3:06 remaining.

Just as he did over and over in the Super Bowl, though, Denver’s Von Miller made a big play, sweeping past right tackle Mike Remmers and sacking Newton. That set up fourth-and-21 from the Carolina 29 at the 2-minute warning and Newton threw incomplete.

The Panthers got another chance in the closing seconds, but after Gano’s miss, they’re now 0-1 to start the season after finishing 15-1 last year.

Originally published as Adam Gotsis makes debut as Denver Broncos win Super Bowl rematch over Carolina Panthers