CHARLOTTE – Late in the third quarter, the Panthers decided they weren't going to let Sunday's pivotal game against the Atlanta Falcons end without a fight.
But a fourth quarter surge wasn't enough to beat the Falcons, who claimed a 19-17 victory and first place in the NFC South.
"Defense played really well and gave us a bunch of opportunities," center Ryan Kalil said. "Offensively, we came to the party too late."
Trailing 16-3, Carolina quite literally fought back.
"I'm proud and excited about the way they stepped up and weren't going to let themselves get pushed around," head coach Ron Rivera said.
'
A series of heated post-whistle skirmishes and a personal foul on each team energized the Panthers and the crowd at Bank of America Stadium.
"It brought some energy to the whole team, and that's what you need," linebacker Luke Kuechly said. "After that, everything picked up."
Linebacker Thomas Davis delivered a huge hit on wide receiver Devin Hester, forcing a fumble that Kuechly recovered at the Carolina 30-yard line with two minutes left in the third quarter.
"The defense was playing well the whole game, but the turnover they got there kind of sparked the offense," wide receiver Philly Brown said.
Two highlight-reel, fourth-quarter touchdown catches by rookie wide receivers gave Carolina a 17-16 lead with 6:20 remaining. Kelvin Benjamin juggled and eventually secured a 22-yard touchdown, and Brown sprinted past the last line of defense for a 47-yard touchdown on the second play of next possession.
But Atlanta used a 12-play, 54-yard drive to set up Matt Bryant for a 44-yard field goal to regain the lead with 2:08 remaining.
"We needed to make one more play on defense," Kuechly said. "We did a good job for most of the game… But you've still got to make one or two more plays."
The Panthers moved down field and forced Atlanta to use all of its timeouts before facing third-and-five from the Falcons' 27-yard line with 1:31 left. They handed the ball to running back Jonathan Stewart for a loss of one, setting up Graham Gano for a 46-yard attempt.
"I made the decision that I felt was best at that point in the game," Rivera said of playing for the field goal.
Gano's kick just missed wide left.
Carolina used their two remaining timeouts to get one last crack at a comeback. The Panthers got the ball at their own 16-yard line with 22 seconds left.
Quarterback Cam Newton tossed three completions to Benjamin. At the end of the third catch, Benjamin alertly handed the ball to tight end Greg Olsen, avoiding a tackle inbounds that would have ended the game and allowing Olsen to get out of bounds with one second left.
Gano attempted a game-winning 63-yard field goal, but the kick was blocked, resulting in a gut-wrenching fifth consecutive loss for Carolina.
"Frustrating, especially because it seems like a lot of the same mistakes," Kalil said. "Good teams do a good job of minimizing those or at least learning from them and we haven't done a good job of that."
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) throws a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Williams (34) runs past Atlanta Falcons' Paul Worrilow (55) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) is sacked by Atlanta Falcons' Kemal Ishmael (36) and Kroy Biermann (71) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons' Kemal Ishmael (36) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Graham Gano (9) kicks a field goal against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) is hit by Carolina Panthers' Dwan Edwards (92) as he throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (11) runs after catching a pass as Carolina Panthers' Josh Norman (24) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) scrambles against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (11) misses a catch as Carolina Panthers' Josh Norman (24) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) tries to run past Atlanta Falcons' Paul Worrilow (55) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Steven Jackson (39) yes airborne as Carolina Panthers' A.J. Klein (56) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Ed Dickson (84) catches a pass against Atlanta Falcons' Kroy Biermann (71) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Devin Hester (17) and Harry Douglas (83) scuffle with Carolina Panthers' Josh Norman (24) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Devin Hester (17) fumbles the ball after being hit by Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis (58) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. The Panthers recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (59) hits Atlanta Falcons' Jacquizz Rodgers (32) after recovering a Falcons fumble in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin (13) catches a touchdown pass against Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Trufant (21) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin (13) grins at Atlanta Falcons' Desmond Trufant (21) after catching a touchdown pass in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Philly Brown, left, prepares to catch a touchdown pass against Atlanta Falcons' Robert McClain (27) in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Philly Brown (16) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammate Kelvin Benjamin (13) as Atlanta Falcons' Robert McClain (27) walks to the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Graham Gano (9) has his last-second field goal attempt against the Atlanta Falcons blocked in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. The Falcons won 19-17. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Kemal Ishmael (36) and Josh Wilson (26) celebrate as Carolina Panthers players walk off the field after a last-second field goal-attempt by the Panthers was blocked in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. The Falcons won 19-17. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
