ANALYSIS: "The feel-good vibes of the Panthers' three-game winning streak are history, replaced by the frustration of a three-game skid. Teddy Bridgewater seemed well set up for a prime-time breakout performance, replete with a charming postgame interview with Colleen Wolfe. Instead, the quarterback looked uncomfortable in the face of a blitz-drunk Falcons defense and dealt with physical issues after an illegal hit left him with a sore neck in the second half. Bridgewater has been a nice story this season, as have Matt Rhule's Panthers as a whole, but it's time for Christian McCaffrey to return and reclaim the starring role of this offense."
ANALYSIS: "Reason for optimism: Defensive coordinator Phil Snow
The first-year NFL defensive coordinator has dealt with losing his Pro Bowl tackle and his starting end, safety and cornerback. Snow started six rookies in Thursday's game against Atlanta. And yet the defense has played well enough to give the Panthers a chance to win almost every week. The credit goes to Snow, whose ability to adjust and use of multiple formations in a bend-but-not-break attack has made the Panthers more competitive than many expected through the first eight games. He has by far made a bigger impact than offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who came in as the hot coaching candidate."
ANALYSIS: "Three consecutive losses has them reeling a bit. But isn't that the team we expected to see?"
ANALYSIS: "They've still got a chance to crash the playoff party, if Christian McCaffrey comes back soon."
ANALYSIS: "Maybe we were right about the Carolina Panthers.
After peeling off three wins in a row to get to 3-2 on the season, it appeared that many pundits (including our NFL analysts) had underestimated Matt Rhule's team. But after losing to one-win Atlanta Falcons team, the Panthers have hit the halfway point of the season 3-5 and well off the lead in the NFC South.
Rhule didn't mince words when asked about Carolina's up-and-down first half.
"Bill Parcells said it best: You are what your record says you are," he told reporters after the loss. "I want to be a team that is better in the second half of the season than we were in the first half."
Improving in the short term isn't going to be easy. In Week 9, the Panthers travel to Kansas City to face the defending Super Bowl champs. That's followed by a home date with the 5-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
Carolina is 2-4 all-time in six meetings with Kansas City through the years.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) makes a touchdown catch in front of Side Judge Ron Torbert (62) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Rickey Proehl (81) gets past Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber to gain 18 yards during the third quarter Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004 in Kansas City, Mo. The Panthers won the game, 28-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, MARCH 9-10 - FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2012, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) is tackled by Carolina Panthers defensive back Josh Thomas (22) during the first half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The new group in charge of the Chiefs is going right to work, making bold moves to turn around a franchise that went 2-14 last season. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)
Carolina Panthers free safety Haruki Nakamura (43) lines up against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 in Kansas City, MO. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs runningback Jamaal Charles (25) gets tripped up as Carolina Panthers Sione Fua (94) Luke Kuechly (59) and Greg Hardy (76) defend during the second half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. The Chiefs defeated the Panthers 27-21. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
El safety de los Panthers de Carolina Haruki Nakamura (43) salta sobre una pila de jugadores ante los Chiefs de Kansas City en el partido de la NFL el domingo 2 de diciembre de 2012. (AP Foto/Ed Zurga)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton gets past Kansas City Chiefs defenders during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Willams (34) and Steve Smith (89) celebrate a touchdown in an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) runs past Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman (24) during the first half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams in a trap in an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart runs for yardage in an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Louis Murphy (83) reaches the ball across the goal line while tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Jalil Brown (30) during the second half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
Kansas City Chiefs' Pat Thomas chases Carolina Panthers' Muhsin Muhammad during an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Peyton Hillis (40) is knocked out of bounds short of the goal line by Carolina Panthers strong safety Charles Godfrey (30) during the first half of an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (89) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Tyler Thigpen looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers celebrates in an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams after scoring a touchdown in an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Havner)
Kansas City Chiefs' Tony Gonzalez (88) is tackled by Carolina Panthers' Jon Beason, right, after a catch in the second quarter in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
Kansas City Chief's quarterback Elvis Grbac (11) goes to pass as Carolina Panthers' Lamar Lathon (57) closes in during the second quarter of the Chiefs' 35-14 win NFL at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday Sept. 21, 1997. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Williams (34) and Jonathan Stewart (28) celebrate William's second touchdown during their 34-0 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
Carolina Panthers' Muhsin Muhammad (87) drags Kansas City Chiefs' Brandon Carr (39) while crossing the goal line for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Panthers' 34-0 win in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008. Kansas City Chiefs' DaJuan Morgan (38) pursues. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Carolina Panthers running back DeShaun Foster (26) is trailed by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Dexter McCleon (22) as he runs the ball for 71 yards in the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004 in Kansas City, Mo. Foster followed the play with a three yard run for a touchdown. The Panthers won the game 28-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Carolina Panthers tight end Kris Mangum (86) spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Kawika Mitchell (50) walks off following the touchdown. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) congragulates wide receiver Keary Colbert after Delhomme threw Colbert a 9 yard pass for a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the third quarter Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004 in Kansas City, Mo. The Panthers won the game 28-17. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Carolina Panthers running back DeShaun Foster (26) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber (59) after gaining 16 yards in the third quarter Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004 in Kansas City, Mo. Foster ran for 174 yards leading the Panthers to a 28-17 win over Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
Carolina Panthers against Kansas City Chiefs on November 13, 2016
