We all know the cliché: The NFL is a game of inches. Wins and losses can often come down to just one big play.

And man was that true for the disappointing 6-10 Carolina Panthers!

Believe it or not, but the 2016 Panthers were just five big plays away from potentially going 11-5.

Looking back on my weekly "Plays to Love, Plays to Hate" recaps, here are the five plays that led to losses in games the Panthers could have realistically won.

If football is a game of inches, then Carolina was about "five inches" away from 11-5. Here’s how:

Week 1 at Denver Broncos

4th Quarter 0:09 – Panthers 20, Broncos 21. Panthers attempting 50-yard field goal

The Situation: With a chance to win the game, Graham Gano lines up for a 50-yard field goal attempt.

The Play: Denver called a timeout to ice Gano just as the ball was snapped. The play was blown dead before the snap, but Gano was still able to launch a "practice" kick which he easily made in the thin Denver air. Then, on the attempt that mattered, J.J. Jansen’s snap was a little high but handled well by Andy Lee. Gano’s kick sailed wide left, sealing the Panthers loss and 0-1 start to the season.

The Outcome: Panthers lose, 21-20.

Week 5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4th Quarter 8:45 – Panthers 14, Bucs 14. Panthers ball 1st-and-Goal on TB 1

The Situation: The Panthers were set up with 1st-and-Goal from the one yard line, tied 14-14. Should be an easy touchdown, right?

The Play: In one of the worst plays of Carolina’s season, Mike Shula dialed up a Derek Anderson rollout pass to the right. (Note: Anderson was filling in for a concussed Cam Newton). There is nothing inherently wrong with passing here, but DA tried to force the ball to Greg Olsen who was double covered in the corner of the end zone. The play clearly wasn’t there, and even high school QBs know to just throw it away in a situation like that. But Anderson forced a horrible pass, and the ball was picked off by Brent Grimes. This play was a killer. Just a killer.

The Outcome: With a score here, Carolina goes up 21-14. Instead, the Panthers lose 17-14 on a last-second Bucs field goal.

Week 6 at New Orleans Saints

4th Quarter 2:00 – Panthers 38, Saints 38. Saints ball 3rd-and-9 on NO 26

The Situation: The Saints faced a crucial third down with two minutes left in the game. If the Panthers defense could hold the New Orleans offense on this play and force a punt, Cam Newton and company would have one last chance to pull off an improbable comeback.

The Play: Drew Brees hit Travaris Cadet for a short four-yard reception, and Cadet was able to run for the additional five yards he needed for a first down. The play extended the Saints drive and kept the ball away from Carolina. As per usual this season, the terrible Panthers defense failed to execute from here. Drew Brees completed six of his next seven passes, putting New Orleans in range for Wil Lutz’s game-winning 52-yard field goal.

The Outcome: Panthers lose, 41-38.

Week 12 at Oakland Raiders

4th Quarter 4:07 – Panthers 32, Raiders 32. Raiders ball 3rd-and-9 on OAK 14

The Situation: With the game tied and nearing just four minutes remaining, Oakland faced a crucial 3rd-and-9 from their own 14. If the Panthers defense could hold here and force a punt, Cam and the offense could be put in position to win the game.

The Play: Michael Crabtree ran a streak down the middle of the field with A.J. Klein in man coverage. Klein stayed close to Crabtree for nearly 50 yards on the streak, which is all that can be expected of a linebacker in that situation. But safety Tre Boston left Klein on an island. Boston shaded to the left AND COVERED ABSOLUTELY NOBODY while Klein struggled to keep up with the sprinting Crabtree. With no safety help from Boston, Crabtree came down with a 49-yard reception. This play set Oakland up for a late field goal to take the lead 35-32, which would prove to be the final score.

The Outcome: Panthers lose, 35-32.

Week 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4th Quarter 0:17 – Panthers 16, Bucs 17. Panthers Attempt 2-Pt Conversion

The Situation: Down one point with the game on the line, Carolina attempted a two-point conversion with 17 seconds left to win the game.

The Play: Greg Olsen slipped on his route and Cam’s pass intended for Olsen fell incomplete. The Panthers lose! The Panthers lose! The loss secured a 6-10 record and the No. 8 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft! Thank you Greg for improving our draft position!

The Outcome: Panthers lose, 17-16.

Summing it Up & Closing It Out

Here is what may have separated the 6-10 Panthers from an 11-5 season:

-One missed game-winning field goal.

-One horrible goal-line interception by a backup QB.

-Two failed third down stops.

-One unsuccessful game-winning two-point conversion.

These are the types of big plays that good teams make. Good teams execute. Good teams turn big plays like those listed above into "Plays to Love", not "Plays to Hate."

The 2016 Carolina Panthers were not a good team.

Let’s hope for more "Plays to Love" in 2017.