Indianapolis, I.N. -- A change in quarterback did nothing to change the result for the Carolina Panthers in Indianapolis.

Rookie QB Will Grier threw three interceptions and the Panthers special teams allowed two punt returns for touchdowns by Nyheim Hines in their 38-6 loss to the Colts.

"You know we played from behind and we hurt ourselves in key situations," said Grier after his first NFL action in which he threw for 224 yards with no touchdowns and was sacked five times. "There's a lot of things I could have done better but I'm proud of the way I went out there and fought."

To make matters worse, frustration spilled over onto the field as Defensive Tackle Vernon Butler was ejected for throwing a punch at a Colts offensive lineman early in the third quarter.  As Butler was escorted back to the locker room, he flipped the Indianapolis fans the middle finger.

"I should have hit nobody in the first place," Butler said. "That's not me. That's not my character. I take full responsibility for it. It won't happen again."

When asked about the incident, Interim Head Coach Perry Fewell added, "I thought he (Butler) should have been ejected for the act he committed on the field. It's not to our standard and we will talk as an organization about that."

The team has now lost seven in a row for the second straight season and you can argue Carolina has played worse since firing Ron Rivera back on December 3, leaving those inside the locker room frustrated and pondering what the future might really hold going forward.

"This is about as rock-bottom as it gets," said veteran Greg Olsen afterwards.  "We have failed. I failed. Every guy in this locker room has failed, everyone associated (with team) has failed."

Even with a win at home next Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Saints, the Panthers will finish at best 6-10.