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.
