CHARLOTTE— There was nothing special about the special teams play in the Carolina Panthers’ 15-10 loss to the Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon at Ericsson Stadium.

The kickers had a hard time kicking, the holders had a hard time holding and the returners had a hard time returning because they fumbled the ball.

So how did the Falcons score the winning points in this strange but true farce of a professional football game?

On a field goal by the special teams, of course.

Morten Andersen’s 27-yarder with 4:29 remaining handed the Panthers another confusing loss. And it more than made up for Andersen’s three earlier shanks.

“It’s good to get a shot at the end after a couple of mishaps,” said Andersen.

He felt a lot better than his counterpart Richie Cunningham, who had anything but a happy day. He had a field goal blocked and didn’t get to try another because holder Ken Walter bobbled the snap. In fact, Walter tried to make something good happen by passing but was called for intentional grounding.

Oh, by the way, Walter also had a punt blocked.

“It wasn’t a normal day,” Cunningham said.

“It was something we didn’t expect,” sighed Panthers’ special teams coach Scott O’Brien.

“It was wacky,” said Andersen.

For the record, the gaffes had the 66,000-plus fans shaking their heads but staying put in their seats because the goofiness kept the game close.

After Andersen started the scoring with a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter, the lunacy began.

Cunningham had a chip shot from 25 yards on the next possession but Travis Hall blocked it.

The Panthers stopped Atlanta but Michael Bates fumbled Dan Stryzinski’s punt.

Atlanta immediately moved into Panthers territory and Andersen set up for a 50-yarder. It was short.

When reminded that he hadn’t hit a 50-yarder in quite a while, he smirked, “We didn’t try one all of last year so it’s hard to make ‘em when you don’t try ‘em. And I have more 50-yarders than anyone in history.”

Cunningham did convert a 33-yarder before halftime as Carolina tied things up at 10. It appeared special teams play was back up to par.

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Not quite. The first two possessions of the third period brought the level of excellence way down.

The Panthers got the ball first and had a punt blocked.

The Falcons moved into position for a 38-yard Andersen field goal try.

Wide right.

But wait. A penalty gave the Falcons new life. They couldn’t move it and out trotted Andersen for a 47-yarder.

Wide right. Again.

“I hit two that usually go,” Andersen shrugged. “There was a little wind but I didn’t think it would affect the kicks. They tailed a little right, which told me I didn’t hit it solid. Even though I’ve been in the league for 19 years, if you don’t hit it exactly like you should, you’ll miss”

Now, it was Cunningham’s turn again, but he didn’t get the chance from the Atlanta 24. Walter couldn’t hold the snap.

“I just have to watch the film to see what happened,” said Cunningham, who has been much-maligned since replacing an injured John Kasay.

Atlanta wasn’t much better. Stryzinski boomed a perfect punt early in the fourth period that bounced high inside the five. Elijah Williams and Darrick Vaughn were both in position to down the ball, but guess what? They ran into each other. Both toppled into the end zone, along with the ball for a touchback.

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Andersen did have the last say, kicking the winning points on a fourth-and-inches play.

“I was definitely ready,” said Andersen, who has been in the league far too long to let a few of misses deflate his confidence. “It was nice to turn a negative into a positive.

“There were just a lot of strange plays,” he said. “Special teams usually make big plays but today special teams made bad plays, including myself. I didn’t play my best game.”

Did anyone on special teams?

It certainly wasn’t a special day for the Panthers. Now mired in a hole with two early losses, Sunday’s fiasco may prove costly in their attempt to be a special team.

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Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of the Post.