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The odds already were long and get longer by the day. But Panthers coach John Fox said he is still sending a positive message to his players after Thursday's 24-17 loss to Miami.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was in Charlotte on Monday and said he has been impressed with how active a role Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has taken in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with the players union.
The eerie part is that it was part of the breakfast conversation Sunday morning.
But the reality for the Carolina Panthers quickly came to bear in the second quarter, when their offensive line changed significantly for the rest of the season.
For eight games, the Carolina Panthers held their breath.
On Sunday, they finally had to dip into their offensive line depth, and they almost certainly will have to the rest of the year.
Sometimes, when you don't know what else to do, you just offer one up and hope for the best. So needing a win to save their season, the Carolina Panthers went to the air.
The first time through, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan had his way with the Carolina Panthers.
The Carolina Panthers finally proved they could pass for a win, but they lost their best pass protector in the process. The Panthers held on for a wild 21-19 win over Atlanta at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, pushing their record to 4-5.