Admit it, as soon as Rivera shut it down with 1 min left in 1st half...

[PhillyB]

coaching can only cover for so much when you've got the 30th ranked defense in the league.

[Cyberjag]

real quick.. how many times did Fox do this exact thing over the years?

trying to pinpoint this as the downfall for the rest of the game seems highly irrelevant to me. I was just as frustrated they didn't go for it because I was hoping Rivera would not be like Fox and actually step on their throats...

I wish he did trust his talent, but is that a solid expectation with a young team still trying to make it through a full game against a potential playoff team? we've had problems playing 4 full quarters against bad teams..

we throw a pick 6, and THAT would have been a relevant turning point of the game... not saving a big lead and receiving the ball again in the 2nd half..

edit: and yeah, there were points where I kept thinking "WTF, you see that isn't working.." a la screen passes over and over... the 1st few times in the 2nd half were efficient and a good idea to settle Cam down, but the Falcons picked up on them and yet they kept coming..

You know, I should have been more careful with my wording. I don't think it was the turning point in the game, if anything Cam's first INT was. But it was a clear indicator of the way the staff really feels about the team. Deserved or not, the defense just doesn't enjoy the trust of the coaching staff, and even after a half where they did a great job, Rivera went conservative to keep them off the field. That sends a message, don't you think?

Sometimes you just need to show trust even when you may not have it.

[rayzor]

the moment this team takes the foot off the gas is the moment that they decide they aren't going to do what is necessary to win the game.

you don't back off ever.

[beastson]

Gaining big leads only to lose the game is not a good sign at all

No matter if its a young team or wateva

[rayzor]

you do what got you the big lead until the game clock hits 00:00.

[Wyank]

...You KNEW that we were going to blow that lead in the second half didn't you?

As soon as we let off the gas yet again when we got up by two scores, I turned to my girlfriend and told her we were going to lose. I've seen this show too many times before.

But as soon as that happened, how many knew the Falcons were DEFINITELY going to come back on us?

I actually turned the game off after that and decided the second half wasn't going to be worth watching.

[Lumps]

I agree with the defense comment. We may have not put more points on the board to rack it up but the defense gave up the minute they felt the offense wasn't going to rack up a 50 point game.

Offense made some mistakes but if our defense could hold teams it wouldn't be a big deal. "Bu but Cam two interceptions!!! and MARE miss5ed!, you say, yea well Cam is suppose to make mistakes that is why a strong defense is IMPERATIVE for a rookie QB, we can't expect Cam to put up 30+ points and if he is he is doing that unexpectedly.

We have a rookie QB but neither our offense or defense is playing like it, this seems to be good for Cam and the offense but very bbbaaaad for defense.

[PantherFanOne]

...You KNEW that we were going to blow that lead in the second half didn't you?

As soon as we let off the gas yet again when we got up by two scores, I turned to my girlfriend and told her we were going to lose. I've seen this show too many times before.

But as soon as that happened, how many knew the Falcons were DEFINITELY going to come back on us?

Exactly....You could feel the air go out of the stadium with that dumb John Fox type move near half time,when we set on the lead and the Falcons almost scored because of it.

I watched the replay and you could tell that it really upset Cam for us to go into that slowdown mode. A momentum swing that carried over to the second half and as well as the rest of the game. Mark this down to bad coaching.

[carolina-chuck]

Ron Rivera sucks. admit it. his approach sucks, his attitude sucks.

the day he wins us a superbowl, ill admit i was an a-hole but now, rr chico aint ready to be a head coach. i want a coach like the Harbaughs, gruden, cowher, who shows energy to the fanbase and attitude toward his players. it's like RR is afraid of hurting Cams feeling. Cam is a rookie and should be treated like a rookie. why is the organization treating him like hes brady or manning.

[CamFan22]

Cam looks really good out there though, rookie of the year for sure

[carolinashawn]

Yep. I knew we were done. You have a 1:30 left in the half and Atlanta was against the ropes yet you decide to play not to lose. You could tell Cam was so frustrated with the play calls coming in. Rivera took the swag out of the team. He has as much learning to do as anyone.

[Catalyst]

Have to admit, I thought this 100%. Made a post in the game thread saying we should all calm down because we hadn't won yet around that time.

[Moose87Banks]

I think it's ridiculous that we can look so good for 2 quarters then look terrible the final 2. It's getting hard to watch the game, because it's such a downer on the day.

[Marguide]

Yep. I knew we were done. You have a 1:30 left in the half and Atlanta was against the ropes yet you decide to play not to lose. You could tell Cam was so frustrated with the play calls coming in. Rivera took the swag out of the team. He has as much learning to do as anyone.

That series might have been handled differently were it not for the holding call on Jordan Pugh during the punt return. That call backed us up and probably changed the plays Chud had intended to use. Start that drive at the 30 or 35 and it is less risky to try to drive the ball down the field.