CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera has consistently kept the focus on the next game, but on Sunday he took a rare peak into the future.

“What we have done is put our backs completely against the wall,’’ he said following a 20-17 loss to Kansas City in which Carolina blew a 17-0 lead.

Carolina's playoff hopes took a major blow with Sunday’s fourth-quarter collapse. It left the defending NFC champions with a 3-6 record heading into a Thursday night game against New Orleans (4-5).

It kept the Panthers from pulling a game and a half behind NFC South-leading Atlanta, which fell to 6-4 with its third loss in the past five games.

There aren’t many bright spots.

But if you’re looking for one, four teams have rallied from a 3-6 record to make the playoffs since the NFL expanded the postseason to 12 teams in 1990.

Let’s take a quick look at those four teams and how they made it:

1994 New England Patriots -- They fell to 3-6 with their fourth consecutive loss, a 13-6 setback to Cleveland. Then they beat Minnesota 26-20 to start a seven-game winning streak that left them tied with the Miami Dolphins atop the AFC East. Three of New England’s losses were by four points or less, similar to Carolina losing four by three or less. The Patriots finally found ways to win the close ones, beginning their finish with three straight wins by six points or less. They also did it with defense, allowing only 13.2 points over the final seven games.

1995 Detroit Lions -- They fell to 3-6 with a 34-22 loss to Atlanta, and then won their final seven games to earn a wild card spot as the second-place finisher to Green Bay in the then-NFC Central. The first three were by seven points or less. Defense again played a key role as five of the final seven opponents were held to 17 points or less and three to 10 points or less.

1996 Jacksonville Jaguars -- Carolina fans should be familiar with this one since the Jaguars and Panthers both made the playoffs in only their second season. The Jaguars fell to 3-6 with a 28-21 loss to Cincinnati. They actually fell to 4-7 before rallying to win their final five games to make the playoffs as a wild card team at 9-7. They won all five games by seven or fewer points. Three were decided by three or fewer points.

2012 Washington Redskins -- They fell to 3-6 with a 21-13 loss to the Panthers and then won their final seven games to win the NFC East with a 10-6 record. Four of the wins came by seven points or less, including an overtime victory against Baltimore. They did it with offense, scoring 27 or more points in six of the seven wins.

In all but one case, the 3-6 team won out to make the playoffs. That appears Carolina’s best chance, although 13 of the 16 NFC teams have five or fewer wins.

A 9-7 or possibly 8-8 record could make it as a wild card.

But as Rivera also mentioned on Sunday, "there is no room for error now."