By Steve Reed
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó The Panthers continue to lose leads and games.
But Sundayís setback against the Minnesota Vikings was big.
Carolina coach Ron Rivera tried to console kicker Olindo Mare after everyone else had cleared out of the Panthers locker room Sunday, walking through with his arm around Mareís shoulder.
Mare had blown a chip shot that pretty much summed up how Carolinaís season has gone.
Mareís missed a potential game-tying 31-yard field goal with 26 seconds left resulting in a costly 24-21 defeat the Minnesota. It was the fifth time this season the Panthers (2-6) lost a game in which they either led or were tied in the fourth quarter
A win and the Panthers would be 3-5 heading into the bye week with a chance to build on two-game win streak and Tennessee looming on Nov. 13. Instead, theyíre 2-6 heading into the bye with a bitter taste in their mouths.
ěI think thereís a lot of frustration right now,î Rivera said.
Nobody was more frustrated than Mare, who called his miss ěinexcusable.î
Heís trying to replace fan favorite John Kasay, who played 16 seasons for the club before being unexpectedly released this offseason. Outside of Sundayís miss, Mare had converted 13 of 15 field goal attempts, but this was his first with the game on the line.
ěI let the team down, the coaches down, the fans down, everybody,î Mare said. ěObviously I didnít do my job.î
Mareís teammates rallied to his defense.
Quarterback Cam Newton said anyone who thinks Mare cost the Panthers the game is a ěfool.î
Newton pointed to the three straight second-half possessions where the Panthers went three-and-out.
Tackle Jordan Gross talked about the critical sack-fumble he gave up to defensive end Jared Allen that led to a Vikings touchdown.
And linebacker James Anderson lamented the defenseís inability to get off the field on third down against Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, who beat the Panthers in just his second NFL start.
ěOlindo is a hell of a kicker and I would bet my last dollar every time in that situation,î Newton said. ěHe makes that 99 percent of the time.î
A win would have given the Panthers back-to-back victories for the first time since 2009 and at least kept them in the conversation when it came to playoff talk. Instead theyíre four games under .500 with tough schedule that includes Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans and Tampa Bay twice.
They have two weeks to think about what could have been ó not just this week, but all season.
ěItís been like (the movie) Groundhog Day around here,î tight end Greg Olsen said of the teamís uncanny ability to lose games late.
Rivera is trying to stay upbeat with a young team, making sure the Panthers donít fall into the mode of simply playing out the string in the second half of the season.
ěWe will see how they react tomorrow (because) whatís going to define us is how we handle this situation and come back and get ready to play,î Rivera said.
Gross, for one, believes the Panthers could use a bye.
The Panthers have been hit hard by injuries all year, particularly at linebacker. They lost two more on Sunday with Jason Phillips injuring his calf and Thomas Williams his neck.
ěI think guys are going to respond really well,î Gross said. ěThey get some time to slow down, get away from each other and let things heal up physically and mentally. We got a heck of a schedule these next eight games and there is no reason we canít win out. Itís crazy to say but I donít think anyone is counting this season over.î
Rivera believes the 38-year-old Mare, who signed a four-year, $12 million contract in July, will be just fine.
ěI went up and told him to keep his head up,î Rivera said. ěHe is a heck of a football player. He is going to get chances to win football games for us and I believe that.î
Notes: Rivera said the team could look to add a linebacker if Phillips or Williams is out and extended period of time. One option, he said, is signing either Kion Wilson or Lawrence Wilson from the practice squad. … The Panthers have until Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. to make a decision on whether to activate rookie cornerback Brandon Hogan, the teamís fourth-round draft pick, from the physically unable to perform list. Hogan started practicing with the team two weeks ago after missing all of the preseason while recovering from torn ACL he suffered in December while playing for West Virginia. … Rivera said he doesnít plan to make any personnel changes in the return game, even though the Panthers rank 29th in the league in kickoff and punt returns.