CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It’s as if Sunday’s 24-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers never happened to the Carolina Panthers.
Almost.
Although Carolina (5-9) still controls its playoff destiny in terms of being able to capture the NFC South by winning out, thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blowing a 17-0 lead in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, there’s no erasing the bad taste Sunday’s setback left for the Panthers.