CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ The first quarter of Sunday's game was bright for the Carolina Panthers _ figuratively and literally.
The sun shined over Bank of America Stadium just two days after weather in Charlotte forced the team to practice at the city's Convention Center. Backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, making his first NFL start, led a 14-play, 73-yard scoring drive to open the game, finishing it off with his first career touchdown pass.
But as the cloud cover slowly shifted, the on-field product became more and more bleak. Heinicke was briefly knocked out of the game with what appeared to be a dislocated elbow; he made an admirable return but the optimistic energy that filled the stadium had long left.
The Atlanta Falcons (6-9) extended the Panthers' losing streak to seven games with a 24-10 victory, sealing the Panthers' postseason fate in the process. It's not happening. Their chance of making the playoffs is no longer some mathematical roller coaster ride _ it's a hard zero percent.
Sunday marked the end of Carolina's home schedule and possibly the end of an era for several prominent Panthers. Longtime mainstays Thomas Davis, Julius Peppers and Ryan Kalil may have each played their final home game at Bank of America Stadium.
If it is, indeed, their final home game, they should be proud of the ride. It's just a shame it had to end like this.
"I can't speak for those guys, but it was probably very tough," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "They deserve better."
