CLEVELAND, OH --The Panthers playoff hopes are in dire straits after a 26-20 loss in Cleveland. It's the team's fifth straight loss and drops its record to 6-7 on the season.

  • Carolina was ahead 20-17 in the fourth quarter when the Browns' Nick Chubb scored on a four-yard touchdown run to give Cleveland (5-7) the lead for good.
  • The Panthers had a pair of opportunities to tie the game and possibly take the lead late.
  • The Panthers play NFC South Division leader New Orleans (11-2) next Monday, December 17.

Carolina was ahead 20-17 in the fourth quarter when the Browns' Nick Chubb scored on a four-yard touchdown run to give Cleveland (5-7) the lead for good.

The Panthers had a pair of opportunities to tie the game and possibly take the lead late, but quarterback Cam Newton threw an incomplete pass to Jarius Wright in the endzone on fourth and goal with 2:39 left in the game.

Carolina's defense forced Cleveland to punt with 1:15 to go, but Newton threw an interception on the first play of the drive from the Panthers 35-yard line. The Browns ran out the clock from there to seal the victory.

"The truth of the matter is that in the first half, we gave two plays up over the top," said Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera afterwards. "At that point, you have to make them earn it, which I felt we did a pretty decent job. But unfortunately, we missed a couple opportunities."

The players are having trouble coming up with answers.

"It’s extremely frustrating to come up short each and every week with similar settings and not be able to push through," said Newton. "I wish I had the words to say but I don’t. In this league, that’s what I always come down to: finding ways to keep the game close. We just haven’t found a way to win.” 

Added cornerback James Bradberry, “We just didn’t execute properly – just mental breakdowns. We just didn’t execute at the end of the day.” 

The Panthers play NFC South Division leader New Orleans (11-2) next Monday, December 17.