The Carolina Panthers suffered their first loss of the 2015 NFL season on Sunday as the Atlanta Falcons pulled the major upset, 20-13. The game started swimmingly for the Panthers as they marched right down the field on their opening drive which resulted in a Cam Newton eight-yard touchdown run to put the Panthers up 7-0.

On the Falcons’ ensuing drive, the Panthers’ defense seemed to force a three-and-out which would’ve give the team a ton of momentum right off the bat and could’ve changed the outcome of the game. Instead, cornerback Charles Tillman was flagged for unnecessary roughness for going after Roddy White after the whistle. Although I understand, Tillman’s frustrations with White cut-blocking him after he just returned from a knee injury, the lack of composure allowed the Falcons’ drive to continue and culminated in a game-tying touchdown.

There’s obviously no way to know how the game would’ve turned out if Tillman hadn’t been flagged, but it’s a realistic possibility that the one lapse in judgment cost the Panthers their 15th win, and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

This comes one week after the Panthers almost suffered their first loss at the hands of the New York Giants when Josh Norman played right into the hands of Odell Beckham Jr. with a 35-7 lead and nearly allowed the Giants to pull the upset. Norman was flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the process because he couldn’t keep his emotions under control.

It has to be frustrating for Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, who has always run a tight ship and earned the reputation of a disciplinarian. For all the struggles the Panthers have endured since he’s been in Charlotte, poise has never been a problem for a Rivera-coached team. If he can’t get the team to respond to his message, this season that had so much promise could end in major disappointment.

Jason Fletcher is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.