FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Coming into Week 4, the Panthers' special teams unit had been the talk of the NFL. And why not? On kickoffs, the group had held opponents to an average starting field position of the 21.2-yard line, the second-best mark in the league behind the Rams. Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was a perfect 5-5 on extra points and field goals, with a long of 57 yards made last week in the win over the Falcons.

And the punt team had allowed only 36 yards on three punt returns, the nine-yard average 11th best in the league.

But on Sunday, that side of the ball had two early miscues that set the tone for the entire game.

"As good as we played last week, we obviously played equally bad today," admitted long snapper JJ Jansen .

The Panthers' offense, on the opening possession, marched do

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