Carolina Panthers, Lathan Ransom
Digest more
Panthers coach Dave Canales on Lathan Ransom’s unnecessary roughness penalty: A ‘bang-bang’ decision
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales called the rule concerning hitting a sliding quarterback a "difficult challenge" for defensive players, after an unnecessary roughness penalty on Lathan Ransom set up the New Orleans Saints' game-winning field goal in Sunday's 20-17 loss.
A would-be 62-yard field goal attempt was cut to a more manageable 47-yard effort after a borderline late hit.
The Panthers still can win the NFC South, but the path to do that is much more difficult than if they'd beaten the Saints.
With a victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers would have had an opportunity to clinch their first NFC South title since 2015 in their next game. But the Panthers lost to the Saints 20-17 and will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday with the teams tied for the division lead.