ATLANTA — It was a long way down for the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Carolina, a team that routinely, some say excessively, prances about the sidelines in celebration, finally felt the sting of a loss after 14 straight wins this season. Losses are not taken easily around the N.F.L., but the Panthers’ locker room was unusually subdued, as if the music were accidentally halted at the height of a party.
The Panthers were sideswiped in their bid to be the first 19-0 N.F.L. team, losing to the Atlanta Falcons, 20-13, before an announced crowd of 70,981 at the Georgia Dome.