CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- After a surprising start, the Carolina Panthers are looking like the young, inexperienced team they were predicted to be entering the NFL season instead of the potential playoff contender they appeared to be after three consecutive victories.
Thursday night’s 25-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium was Carolina’s third straight as it enters the toughest part of the schedule, with games against Kansas City (6-1) and Tampa Bay (5-2) up next.
The Panthers (3-5) couldn’t beat an Atlanta team that couldn’t beat anybody -- the Falcons lost six of their first seven games.