Dave Canales Avoids Criticism of Officials

The Panthers lost their chance to win the NFC South, leading them to root for the Falcons, who must beat the Saints for Carolina to claim the division title through a tiebreaker among three 8-9 teams. Coach Dave Canales refrained from criticizing officiating after the 16-14 loss, attributing the defeat to poor offensive execution and missed opportunities. The weather impacted both teams, but officiating issues seemed to affect the Panthers more. Atlanta has a strong night game record, raising concerns about their performance against New Orleans.