CHARLOTTE – The Carolina Panthers entered their Christmas Eve game at Bank of America Stadium with fleeting hopes for the playoffs but realistic hopes of preventing the Atlanta Falcons from moving closer to taking the NFC South crown.
The Falcons, however, dashed all those hopes with a strong start that catapulted them to a 33-16 victory in Carolina's final home game.
"I'm disappointed, but there's hope for the future. We had a long, long run," said quarterback Cam Newton, whose Panthers will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2012. "We wanted to have better results, especially for our last home game, but that's football."
Newton, who wouldn't blame a shoulder injury for his 18-for-43 day, lamented the slow start the offense got off to, but the entire team shared in the sluggishness. The Falcons were sharp out of the gate, taking the opening kickoff and marching 75 yards on eight plays to claim a 7-0 lead when quarterback Matt Ryan hooked up with tight end Joshua Perkins for a 26-yard score.
The Panthers reached midfield on their opening drive after converting a fourth-and-short, but on the next play Newton tossed his first of two interceptions. That set the table for a 51-yard field goal by Matt Bryant, and a subsequent three-and-out by Carolina's offense was followed by a 48-yarder by Bryant.
Just before the first quarter had expired, the Falcons had a 13-0 lead.
"I'm disappointed. We didn't protect the ball early on, and we didn't take the ball away," head coach Ron Rivera said. "We just missed plays. That's disappointing. I thought we had a good week. I thought our preparation was sharp and the guys looked good coming into the game.
"At the end of the day, we just didn't get it done."
Another touchdown reception by an Atlanta tight end, this one by Levine Toilolo from 1 yard out to cap another 75-yard drive, gave the Falcons a 20-3 halftime lead. The Panthers responded by scoring on their first two drives of the second half, highlighted by a 26-yard touchdown strike from Newton to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to close Carolina within 23-13.
Momentum appeared to be shifting, especially after rookie cornerback James Bradberry broke up a long pass for Julio Jones – held to 60 receiving yards after posting 300 in the teams' Week 4 matchup – and then team sack leader Mario Addison dropped Ryan for a 6-yard loss.
But on what became third-and-21 after a false start, Ryan hit running back Tevin Coleman open in the flat for a 31-yard gain. The Panthers then fell flat on the next snap, when Coleman took a pitch and steamed 55 yards for a touchdown that made it 30-13 early in the fourth quarter and essentially ended Carolina's comeback hopes.
"We had an opportunity on third-and-long, and we got out-leveraged in the flat and they got a first down," Rivera said. "That kind of took the wind out of our sails. We had some good momentum, but unfortunately we didn't make the play."
The Panthers entered the day multiple Hail Marys removed from a fourth consecutive playoff berth. Those faint hopes officially died when Washington beat the Bears moments before the Panthers game ended, but pride more than playoff possibilities were the driving force and will be again next week in the season finale at Tampa Bay.
"When you come up short like this, it's just a bad feeling, a really bad feeling," Addison said. "We have one more game to play, and we're going to play our hearts out until the end."
View game action photos from Carolina's 33-16 loss to Atlanta.
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones, top, is tackled by Carolina Panthers' James Bradberry, bottom, in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) looks to pass under pressure from Carolina Panthers' Wes Horton (96) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Josh Perkins (82) catches a touchdown pass as Carolina Panthers' James Bradberry (24) and Thomas Davis (58) defend in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Brian Poole (34) runs after an interception against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Aldrick Robinson (19) catches a pass as Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis (58) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) runs as Atlanta Falcons' Dwight Freeney (93) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin (13) reaches for a ball as Atlanta Falcons' Jalen Collins (32) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen (88) runs out of bounds after a catch in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen (88) celebrates with Cam Newton (1) after Olsen passed 1,000 yards receiving in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Devin Funchess (17) misses a catch as Atlanta Falcons' Robert Alford (23) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Devonta Freeman, right, is tackled by Carolina Panthers' James Bradberry, left, in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass as Carolina Panthers' Kawann Short (99) defends in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' D.J. Tialavea (86) catches a touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) is sacked by Carolina Panthers' Kurt Coleman (20) in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Atlanta Falcons' Jalen Collins (32) runs after an interception as Carolina Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin (13) pursues in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) looks to pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera reacts to a call in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) runs for a first down against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) looks to pass against the Carolina Panthers in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (11) runs after a catch as Carolina Panthers' Kurt Coleman (20) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin (13) catches a touchdown pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Tevin Coleman, right, runs after a catch as Carolina Panthers' Daryl Worley, left, and Thomas Davis, back, defend in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Atlanta Falcons' Tevin Coleman (26) runs past Carolina Panthers' Tre Boston (33) for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen (88) runs after a catch as Atlanta Falcons' Ricardo Allen (37) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Kelvin Benjamin (13) and Atlanta Falcons' Jalen Collins (32) watch a pass fall incomplete in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) runs as Atlanta Falcons' Deion Jones (45) defends in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton, left, and others watch from the bench late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Carolina Panthers' Greg Olsen (88) catches a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. The Falcons won 33-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, left, shakes hands with Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, right, after an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016. The Falcons won 33-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
