Panthers alone in first in NFC South, eyeing playoffs after Bucs' loss to Falcons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dave Canales went to bed at halftime of the Falcons-Bucs game Thursday night. When the second-year coach woke up Friday morning, he and the Carolina Panthers were in a position the franchise hasn’t seen in 10 years – alone in first place. When the Falcons came back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Bucs 29-28, it left the Panthers (7-6) in sole possession of first in the NFC South for the first time since Week 17 of their 2015 Super Bowl season. The Panthers have several clinching scenarios that would send them to the playoffs for the first time since...