CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Twice in the fourth quarter on Sunday the Carolina Panthers appeared set to complete yet another late-game collapse.
Twice they came up with big plays like they did a year ago, first with an interception by linebacker Shaq Thompson and then a sack for a safety by defensive end Mario Addison.
And the team that had given up a league-high 138 fourth-quarter points coming into the game posted a fourth-quarter shutout.
Had the Panthers showed this type of killer instinct in what quarterback Cam Newton earlier in the week called a “demoralizing’’ season, they may not be on the outside looking in at the playoff hunt.
So call Sunday’s 28-16 victory over the San Diego Chargers one of those “what-if’’ games.
"It’s little things like that that can change a season,'' safety Tre Boston said. "We’ve been on seasons like last year where we won five or six games like that. But we can’t worry about would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. Now we’re building on this year and next year.’’
The Panthers still showed the flaws that have them at 5-8 with three games remaining. But the team that has lost five games by a field goal or less finally showed some spunk down the stretch.
The defense actually showed it much of the game, collecting five sacks and five turnovers.
“We all felt really juiced up,'' said defensive end Ryan Delaire, who had a sack and quarterback hit.
The win won’t get Carolina into the playoffs, but it may help it avoid the worst decline in wins from one season to the next since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule. The 2013 Houston Texans and 1994 Houston Oilers both won 10 fewer games than they did the previous season.
The Panthers, 15-1 in the regular season a year ago, would have to lose their final three games to equal that.
Call it an oasis in a season that has felt like a drought.
Just don't call it the complete game Newton and the coaching staff have been talking needing about all season.
“It wasn’t,'' said Newton, who threw for only 160 yards and one touchdown to go with an interception. "The defense just played lights out, gave us unbelievable field position, and offensively, not to rain on the win, we have to put up points -- points as in touchdowns.
“If we do that, that game is out of hand earlier. That’s what imposing our will is. We have to have that type of mentality, that killer instinct, and we didn’t have it. But we found ways to win, and that’s the positive and optimism.’’
Carolina started fast, jumping to a 23-0 lead with 3 minutes, 54 seconds left in the second quarter.
The offense looked sharp with Jonathan Stewart running for a touchdown and Newton throwing for one. The defense was aggressive, sacking Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers four times, intercepting him once and forcing two fumbles.
It looked like the team that led the league in scoring and turnover margin a year ago.
Then, as has been the case much of the season, Carolina got sloppy. It gave up a late first-half touchdown and then started the second half by settling for a field goal after having second-and-goal at the 5.
The running game that netted 89 yards in the first half had only 8 yards in the third quarter. The protection for Newton began to break down. The secondary began to give up big plays.
"We missed some opportunities,'' coach Ron Rivera said. "If we could put some points up on the board early, in other words score touchdowns as opposed to kicking field goals, it's a different type of fourth quarter and probably a different type of third quarter as well.''
But it was different in past games. With the Chargers on the move trailing 26-16, Thompson came up with a big interception. Carolina didn’t capitalize because Newton threw an interception at the San Diego 3-yard line when wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin didn’t go after the ball aggressively.
That was a minor setback.
Addison, who missed the past two games with a foot injury, sacked Rivers for the safety that sewed this one up.
Had the Panthers played this way more often, they wouldn’t be in a position of approaching the offseason with so many “what-ifs.’’
