CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera says two things became apparent to him after looking at tape of the Panthers 22-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.The missed opportunities was probably the biggest thing, more so than anything else, and some of the penalties, Rivera said Monday. We had some really good things that went on, some really good plays, then you kinda look at them and its almost silly to have those kind of penalties committed.Rivera said those missed opportunities, as well as protecting quarterback Cam Newton, need to be corrected as Carolina opens a three-game stretch of NFC South division games starting Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.While the Falcons offense has put up league-leading numbers, their defense has struggled, especially against the pass. Heading into Monday nights game against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta is fifth-worst in the league in yards allowed (412.5) and tied for ninth in passing yards allowed (290.0), with seven passing TDs in two games.That could be just what the Panthers offense needs to get back on track, especially after following up a 46-point effort against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago by getting shut out by the Vikings over the final three quarters Sunday.This season, in Atlantas first two games, its defense gave up four touchdowns and 281 passing yards to Tampa Bays Jameis Winston in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, and three TDs and 299 yards to Oaklands Derek Carr in beating the Raiders last week.That has offset a Falcons offense that leads the NFL in yards per game (451.0) and is second in scoring (29.5 per game).You look at the games theyve been in, and they havent been complete blowouts until later on, Rivera said. When youre not making plays, youre getting attacked. Were looking forward to it. Our guys have an opportunity to put themselves in a good position in an important game.But this years performance is no guarantee of success, Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Shula said.You go back to our games last year, and they were two totally different games, Shula added. We had a lot of big plays in the first game (a 38-0 Panthers win Dec. 13, 2015), and they did a good job in the second game taking those big plays away (a 20-13 Falcons win Dec. 27).Were going to look at balance. Were going to look at making good decisions and getting the ball out on time.That was part of the Panthers problems against the Vikings.Carolina led 10-0 two-thirds of the way through the first quarter and had more net yardage than the Vikings (306-211). But the Panthers let Minnesota back in the game, giving up a sack and safety on Newton later in the first quarter, followed by a 54-yard punt return for a score by Marcus Sherels late in the second quarter.The Vikings went on to sack Newton eight times total in Sundays 22-10 victory, the most last years NFL MVP has been taken down since the 2014 season. He was also hit four more times, and rushed into throwing three interceptions.While Newton finished with 262 passing yards, he was held to 95 yards in the second half and was 8 of 17. Even worse, his two biggest receiving targets -- 6-foot-5 Kelvin Benjamin and 6-4 Devin Funchess -- were held without a reception on three combined targets.Weve got to find a way to get him the ball more, Shula said of Benjamin, who led the Panthers in receptions (13) and receiving yards (199) entering Sundays game. But we need to do it in a way where were not forcing the ball.Penalties also hurt the Panthers, especially at crucial moments. In the second quarter Benjamin was called for an illegal block on Minnesotas Trae Waynes that nullified a 56-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Fozzy Whittaker.You dont do your job, you dont do things the way youre supposed to, youre going to get beat at the end of the day, Rivera said. It doesnt matter whether youre a first-year player or a 10th-year player, you are going to make a mistake. We got caught on that, and got put in a bad situation.This was our third game. Weve played two teams that were in the playoffs last year. Weve had our ups and downs. Weve had our moments against them, Rivera said. What weve got to be able to do is eliminate the lows, and play consistent.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Custom J. R. Richard Jersey . 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LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska opened up a 22-point lead in the first half, then watched South Dakota cut that lead to two before the Huskers were able to turn back the upset bid 73-61 on Saturday.I was really proud of our guys to perform down the stretch, said Nebraska coach Tim Miles. South Dakota competed really hard and really, I thought, out-competed us the second half. When you get punched in the mouth, you cant look at that and say `Oh gee, whats going on, do I have any teeth left? Youve just got to swallow them, spit the blood out and keep battling.Nebraska (5-3) hit 10 of its first 15 shots, 4 of 7 from 3-point range, while the Husker defense stifled South Dakota (6-4). The Coyotes hit just 2 of their first 11 shots and turned the ball over six times in the game-opening stretch that saw Nebraska lead 26-4 with 11:23 left in the first half.We looked like Edward Scissorhands out there for the first eight minutes or so -- a lot of turnovers, just driving in there and playing volleyball, throwing it up there and seeing what happened, said South Dakota coach Craig Smith We had to adjust and once we finally kind of settled in, I really liked we saw our of team. I thought we had great resolve. Im proud of how we played when we got down 22 in a hostile environment.Nebraska led 41-21 on Jack McVeighs 3-pointer with 2:53 left in the half, but the Huskers hit just one field goal and a pair of free throws the rest of the half and the Coyotes trailed 45-31 at halftime.The Huskers made 5 of 16 shots against South Dakotas zone defense to open the second half and turned the ball over eight times. Nebraska hit 33 percent of its shots in the second half.Credit to them, said Nebraska forward Michael Jacobsen. They definitely switched defenses and pressed and did some things that kind of got us on our heels and out of our attack mindset, which I thought was pretty good at the outset of the game.Credit to them, no doubt. They definitely switched defenses and pressed and did some things that kind of got us on our heels and out oof our attack mindset, which I thought was pretty good at the outset of the game.ddddddddddddrailing 56-42 in the second half, the Coyotes went on a 12-0 run, cutting the Husker lead to two on Matt Mooneys layup with 7:30 left. Nebraskas Tai Webster countered with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to five and McVeighs 3 with 2:45 left made it 67-58.McVeigh finished with 16 points and made 4 of 9 from behind the arc.McVeigh hit some big shots in the second half, Smith said. He got a groove going, exactly what he needed early on, hit three 3s in the first half and started feeling it. Then hit a couple big 3s in the second half when we were in the midst of a big-time run. Coach (Miles) has been upfront and honest about it, theyve got to make some threes that way.Webster scored 12 points with three 3s for Nebraska and Michael Jacobson added 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.BIG PICTURENebraska: Saturdays contest against South Dakota was a breather in the Huskers challenging pre-conference schedule. Nebraska played No. 11 UCLA the Friday after Thanksgiving, traveled to Clemson last week and will face No. 10 Creighton and No. 4 Kansas in its next two games.South Dakota: South Dakota, which has four players on its roster from the state of Nebraska, is off to its best start since joining NCAA Division 1 in 2008.POSTGAME COMEDYSmith was an assistant with Miles at four different schools, including Nebraska, before taking the South Dakota job two years ago. They did the postgame press conference together, turning it into a comedy act.I figured if we didnt do a joint press conference Id never get him out of here, Miles said opening the press conference.Im surprised you let me talk, Smith replied. In 11 years, I didnt say a whole lot.I had a lot of answers, Miles said.UP NEXTNebraska will host in-state rival Creighton WednesdaySouth Dakota will return to Vermillion to host Montana State Wednesday. ' ' '
