ATLANTA – Each of the previous two years, the Carolina Panthers capped the regular season by storming into their cramped locker room at the Georgia Dome and joyously posing for pictures after clinching the NFC South title.
Sunday, the same space was instead filled with a screeching silence, but the Panthers still took a picture. Following Carolina's first loss of the season after 14 victories, players and coaches took a mental snapshot of the moment, hoping that six weeks from now they'll look back at it as a painful but a pivotal frame of reference in their Super Bowl quest.
"We're on a journey, and this is part of it," head coach Ron Rivera told the media, echoing what he told his team following a 20-13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. "As you're going along, you're going to have bumps in the road; this just happens to be a big bump. Now we've got to refocus, get ourselves geared up and be ready to go.
"We've accomplished a lot, and to be 14-1 at this point in the season is tremendous. Let's not lose sight of that. This is not the end of the world, obviously; it's not even the end of the season."
The Panthers have been insistent that becoming just the second team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season was never their goal, but with just two games to go, of course such an accomplishment was on their radar.
"This is going to burn for a while, especially if things go well for us next week," tight end Greg Olsen said. "But I'm not going to panic; I'm not going to overreact. We're 14-1. There are 31 other teams that wish they had our record.
"Obviously we're disappointed – we wanted to win this game no doubt – and we gave it all we had but just came up short. That's what happens sometimes in the NFL."
The Panthers have done an amazing job of embracing the one-game-at-a-time mantra, and they didn't really slip in that regard Sunday. If anything, human nature got the better of them in another hard-to-avoid way: Just two weeks ago, the Panthers beat up on this same Falcons team by a 38-0 count.
That certainly motivated the Falcons, who had too much pride to allow that to happen again. They also had to win to keep their playoffs hopes afloat.
"We knew that this was their Super Bowl, that their whole season came down to today," Olsen said. "Give them credit. They did what they needed to do to win, and we didn't."
The Panthers, of course, hope their Super Bowl is the actual Super Bowl in six weeks, and if they do get there it will follow a path that safety Roman Harper knows well. Six years ago, Harper starred for a Saints team that started 13-0 before dropping their final three regular season games – only to win it all.
"This was a heck of a run, and now everything is still out there for us," Harper said. "It will be a great learning experience. For the young guys, Coach Rivera gets to give the 'loss talk' for the first time. These things are good for us, and we'll be better because of it.
"I've been on a team where we lost three straight games going into the playoffs and nobody thought we could do it. Now people want to jump off the wagon and try to say what we are as a team, but nobody can determine who we are as a team other than ourselves."
Quarterback Cam Newton, as is well documented from way back when the Panthers last lost a game, takes failure on the football field as hard as anyone.
"It didn't tickle," he said when asked what losing felt like.
But Newton, too, has reached a point in his career where he realizes that as much as he hates it, some good can come from a bad loss.
"We deserved this with how we played offensively, defensively and special teams – and I'm talking with a mirror in front of my face," Newton said. "Yet, we know what we're capable of. We're 14-1 right now. We're in a situation where we can use this as fuel to the fire."
View game action photos from Carolina's 20-13 loss to Atlanta.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) runs after making a catch against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs against Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Kroy Biermann (71) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) displays his first down against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) hands his touchdown ball to a fan during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) vie for a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) fumbles the ball on a run against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) is tackled by Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) runs out of the pocket against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) makes a catch as Carolina Panthers strong safety Roman Harper (41) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers free safety Kurt Coleman (20) hits Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) celebrates his touchdown against the Carolina Panthers with Atlanta Falcons tackle Ryan Schraeder (73) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) tackles Carolina Panthers wide receiver Corey Brown (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short (99) tackles Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) runs after a catch against Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. Kuechly was called for a penalty for a horse collar tackle on the play. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Shaq Thompson (54) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Phillip Adams (20) tackles Carolina Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (34) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Vic Beasley (44) pressures Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (82) runs against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons nose tackle Jonathan Babineaux (95) and Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Justin Durant (52) attempt a tackle on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera watches his team play offense against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (34) runs past Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Nate Stupar (54) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Kroy Biermann (71) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Kroy Biermann (71) celebrates the sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (84) runs as Carolina Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman (31) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes his fifth catch of the day against Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant (21) pushes Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (82) out of bounds during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen (88) runs against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs against Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen (37) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) carries Carolina Panthers free safety Kurt Coleman (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works under the pressure of Carolina Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson (95) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch against Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. Jones scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch against Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. Jones scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) moves the ball after making a catch against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. Jones scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) enters the end zone for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Philip Wheeler (51) hits Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) runs out of the pocket against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) recovers a loose ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) recovers a loose ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) runs against Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Nate Stupar (54) celebrates a broken pass as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons kicker Shayne Graham (6) celebrates his field goal against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 20-13. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) walks off the field after the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 20-13. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
