uggesting that IOC voters and Olympic sports leaders can be swayed cl

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera says two things became apparent to him after looking at tape of the Panthers 22-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.The missed opportunities was probably the biggest thing, more so than anything else, and some of the penalties, Rivera said Monday. We had some really good things that went on, some really good plays, then you kinda look at them and its almost silly to have those kind of penalties committed.Rivera said those missed opportunities, as well as protecting quarterback Cam Newton, need to be corrected as Carolina opens a three-game stretch of NFC South division games starting Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.While the Falcons offense has put up league-leading numbers, their defense has struggled, especially against the pass. Heading into Monday nights game against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta is fifth-worst in the league in yards allowed (412.5) and tied for ninth in passing yards allowed (290.0), with seven passing TDs in two games.That could be just what the Panthers offense needs to get back on track, especially after following up a 46-point effort against the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago by getting shut out by the Vikings over the final three quarters Sunday.This season, in Atlantas first two games, its defense gave up four touchdowns and 281 passing yards to Tampa Bays Jameis Winston in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, and three TDs and 299 yards to Oaklands Derek Carr in beating the Raiders last week.That has offset a Falcons offense that leads the NFL in yards per game (451.0) and is second in scoring (29.5 per game).You look at the games theyve been in, and they havent been complete blowouts until later on, Rivera said. When youre not making plays, youre getting attacked. Were looking forward to it. Our guys have an opportunity to put themselves in a good position in an important game.But this years performance is no guarantee of success, Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Shula said.You go back to our games last year, and they were two totally different games, Shula added. We had a lot of big plays in the first game (a 38-0 Panthers win Dec. 13, 2015), and they did a good job in the second game taking those big plays away (a 20-13 Falcons win Dec. 27).Were going to look at balance. Were going to look at making good decisions and getting the ball out on time.That was part of the Panthers problems against the Vikings.Carolina led 10-0 two-thirds of the way through the first quarter and had more net yardage than the Vikings (306-211). But the Panthers let Minnesota back in the game, giving up a sack and safety on Newton later in the first quarter, followed by a 54-yard punt return for a score by Marcus Sherels late in the second quarter.The Vikings went on to sack Newton eight times total in Sundays 22-10 victory, the most last years NFL MVP has been taken down since the 2014 season. He was also hit four more times, and rushed into throwing three interceptions.While Newton finished with 262 passing yards, he was held to 95 yards in the second half and was 8 of 17. Even worse, his two biggest receiving targets -- 6-foot-5 Kelvin Benjamin and 6-4 Devin Funchess -- were held without a reception on three combined targets.Weve got to find a way to get him the ball more, Shula said of Benjamin, who led the Panthers in receptions (13) and receiving yards (199) entering Sundays game. But we need to do it in a way where were not forcing the ball.Penalties also hurt the Panthers, especially at crucial moments. In the second quarter Benjamin was called for an illegal block on Minnesotas Trae Waynes that nullified a 56-yard touchdown catch-and-run by Fozzy Whittaker.You dont do your job, you dont do things the way youre supposed to, youre going to get beat at the end of the day, Rivera said. It doesnt matter whether youre a first-year player or a 10th-year player, you are going to make a mistake. We got caught on that, and got put in a bad situation.This was our third game. Weve played two teams that were in the playoffs last year. Weve had our ups and downs. Weve had our moments against them, Rivera said. What weve got to be able to do is eliminate the lows, and play consistent.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Kermit Whitfield Jersey .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. B.W. Webb Jersey . 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But he said he did nothing improper when he sold those shares over the next two days. LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Donald Trumps election as U.S. president has the potential to influence Los Angeles chances of hosting the 2024 Olympics. For better or worse.Some International Olympic Committee members -- who will choose among Los Angeles, Paris and Budapest, Hungary, in a vote next September -- cited possible pros and cons on Wednesday of Trumps role in the American bid.As a polarizing presidential candidate, Trumps words on Muslims, Mexicans and other issues could have offended some of the 98 IOC members from around the world who will select the host city.It may have, the IOCs longest-serving member, Dick Pound of Canada, told The Associated Press.At the same time, Pound did not rule out the possibility that Trump could help win votes if he travels to Lima, Peru, in September to pitch the Los Angeles bid in person to the IOC ahead of the secret ballot.If he is there, and evidently he is someone who feeds off his audience, there is no reason to think he cant work this audience as well, Pound said.South African IOC member Sam Ramsamy, whose country has been described by Trump as a very dangerous mess, dismissed any lingering effect with 10 months left before the 2024 Olympic vote.He has been rude to everybody, Ramsamy told the AP. I dont believe it will affect bidding in any way.In a statement Wednesday congratulating Trump, the Los Angeles 2024 bid committee said the Olympics can transcend politics and can help unify our diverse communities and our world.Citing 88 percent support for its bid, the committee pointed to strong bipartisan support at all levels of government.We look forward to working closely with President-elect Trump and his administration across the federal government to deliver a successful Olympics, the statement said.IOC President Thomas Bach offered a brief statement to the AP on Trumps election.Let me congratulate President-elect Trump on his victory and wish him all the best for his term in office for all the people of the United States and of the world, he said.Swiss IOC member Rene Fasel suggested that if Trump spoke offensively during the presidential race, it was a tactic to woo voters that worked.You saw his speech today and its already a different man, Fasel said, citing Trumps first public address as president-elect which sought to be more inclusive.ddddddddddddWhile Trump has little track record with the Olympic movement, his opponent, Hillary Clinton, was a supporter of New Yorks failed bid for the 2012 Games and has attended several Olympics. She was First Lady when the U.S. last hosted the Summer Games -- in Atlanta in 1996.President Barack Obama went to the IOC vote in Copenhagen in 2009 to support Chicagos bid for the 2016 Olympics. Chicago was still eliminated in the first round, with the games awarded to Rio de Janeiro.Clintons presidential campaign has some close ties to Los Angeles bid leaders. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is a Democrat who spoke at the Democratic Party convention in July which formally nominated Clinton. Bid chairman Casey Wasserman was also a prominent Clinton backer.Garcetti acknowledged in an AP interview in August during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics that some IOC members could be turned off by a Trump victory.I think for some of the IOC members they would say, `Wait a second, can we go to a country like that, where weve heard things that we take offense to? Garcetti said then.Garcetti remains more important to the bid than Trump, according to American IOC executive board member Anita DeFrantz.Its the city that hosts the games, and its the mayor that signs the documents. It is not the president, DeFrantz told The AP in Lausanne on Wednesday.Pound believes Los Angeles leaders will urgently want to meet with Trump to see if he is an enthusiastic supporter of this venture or not.Your most important campaign is at home, Pound said, suggesting that IOC voters and Olympic sports leaders can be swayed closer to election day. The roadshow only happens in the last few months.Before that final stretch of campaigning, the citys biggest rival -- Paris -- could have its own domestic politics to explain.In May, France elects a president in a contest many predict will include far-right candidate Marine Le Pen among the two candidates in a second round of voting.