CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A few thoughts on the Carolina Panthers' 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium:
What it means: Coach Ron Rivera admitted Friday that this was a "do or die" game for the Panthers. If so, rest in peace. Carolina (3-7-1) lost its fifth straight game to go to 1-7-1 in its last nine games. Mathematically, the NFC South crown remains up for grabs because Atlanta (4-6) and New Orleans (4-6) have only one more win and the Panthers have a game left against each. But mentally this team has to be done, having not won a game since Oct. 5. The Panthers lost this one late on a missed field goal by the sure-footed Graham Gano. As anemic as the offense was for most of the game, there can't be many -- if any -- wins left.
Stock watch: Just when you thought it couldn't get much worse for quarterback Cam Newton, who had a passer rating of 61.12 over the past four games, it did. He threw an interception on Carolina's first series, giving him at least one in seven straight games. That tied Steve Beuerlein (2000) and Jake Delhomme (2003-04) for the longest streak in franchise history. Newton opened the second half with an interception. Midway through the second half, his passer rating was a dreadful 25.4 -- against the worst pass defense in the league. Then he caught fire, throwing touchdown passes of 22 and 47 yards to give the Panthers a 17-16 lead. But it was too little, too late.
Wild card: Carolina's red zone woes continued in the first half. Ranked 27th in the NFL with 14 touchdowns on 29 trips inside the 20 coming into the game, the Panthers had to settle for a 23-yard field goal after driving 83 yards on 17 plays and eating up 9:05 on the clock.
Wild card II: Rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was targeted five times and had two catches in the first half. That got him to 39 catches on 82 targets after Game 1. The first throw to him in the second half was intercepted. He did come back for a nice 22-yard touchdown catch with 9:12 remaining.
Game ball: Outside linebacker Thomas Davis. He forced a fumble to keep Carolina alive late in the third quarter when Atlanta was in scoring position to possibly clinch it, and he had a team-high 12 tackles.
What's next: The Panthers have a bye week before facing the Minnesota Vikings (4-6) in Minneapolis on Nov. 30.
