I disagree 'somewhat.' :) It wasn't defensive holding because the ball was in the air but could have been considered pass interference and should have. According to the rules (I'm sure you know them better than id o :) ) the exception is for contact that would normally be considered pass interference, but the pass is clearly uncatchable by the involved player. The refs made that call that the exception fit the situation. I'm not so sure they were correct. Watching the play back, it looked to me like he was actually pushed back and had he not been, he might have been able to step forward and catch the ball.

I just watched the video - I stand corrected and I agree with you (which would have made Carolina's chances worse, unfortunately for Panther fans). I thought there was some illegal contact prior to the pass being thrown. There wasn't. - the contact all occurred after Brady threw the pass.

It would have been a difficult catch for Gronk, but certainly not impossible. I just watched it again in slow motion and my opinion is that the pass was basically uncatchable because of the interference by Luke Kuechly. So I'm back to agreeing with the original official call on the field of pass interference.

Which would have been worse for Carolina....New England would have had an untimed down on the 1 yard line (since the interference call occurred in the end zone), as opposed to a five yard penalty for illegal contact.

Again, I hate the Pats and wanted them to lose. But they did get screwed at the end.