CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The dab may be back, but the fun may have gone out of the season for the Carolina Panthers.

Quarterback Cam Newton reintroduced the Atlanta-based move that he retired after the 2015 season following a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

It seemed to be a concerted effort by Newton to put fun back into the game only a few days after the reigning NFL MVP admitted this season hasn’t been much fun because of the close losses.

Cam Newton Under Pressure The Chiefs turned up the heat on Cam Newton in the second half Sunday, increasing their pressure percentage and sacks while limiting Newton through the air. 1st Half 2nd Half Pressure pct. 21% 29% Yds per att. 8.3 5.5 TD-Int 1-0 0-1<< Sacks 0 2 >>Pick-six thrown while under pressure

That seemed to be working as Carolina built a 17-0 lead and led 17-3 going into the final quarter. Even at 17-6 midway through the final quarter, the Panthers seemed in control and having fun.

Then Newton made one of those mistakes that have haunted him and Carolina all season. He threw a horrible pass off of his back foot into double coverage that former Atlanta high school rival Eric Berry returned 42 yards for a touchdown.

That was the beginning of a collapse that ended with the Chiefs winning 20-17 on a last-second field goal following a fumble by Carolina wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

The dab that once energized the crowd became an afterthought.

And so may be Carolina’s hopes of doing what the Chiefs did a year ago in becoming the first NFL team to rally from a 1-5 start to make the playoffs.

"That’s as bad of a loss as I’ve had in 10 years," Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said. "To be in complete control in the fourth quarter and self-destruct ... it’s tough."

The loss dropped the Panthers to 3-6 and alone in last place in the NFC South. The Panthers likely need to run the table to have any shot at the playoffs, although they remain only two and a half games behind division-leading Atlanta after the Falcons fell to 6-4 with a loss on Sunday.

But with a quick turnaround for a Thursday night game against a New Orleans team the Panthers already have lost to, Carolina truly has its back against the wall.

Newton has only himself to blame, not just because of the interception but for taking consecutive sacks in the third quarter at the end of a 20-play drive that concluded with no points after Carolina had first down at the Kansas City 20.

A field goal there and the Panthers would have led 20-3.

"That was the difference in the game right there," Olsen said. "You go up 20-3 in the third quarter, it’s pretty much over."

That sequence and the interception return overshadowed the dab and more records for Newton.

In the first half, Newton became the first player in NFL history to pass for 20,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in his first six seasons.

The 27-year-old also became the fifth-youngest quarterback in NFL history to surpass 20,000 yards passing. The four younger than Newton are Drew Bledsoe, Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford and Dan Marino.

All of this temporarily made football fun for the Panthers.

But in the end, this game will be remembered for the collapse, not the dab.

"It's just disappointing," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "We had every opportunity to win a football game today and we didn't. You can't turn the ball over. ... You can't take back-to-back sacks. You just can't.

"That's the bottom line, and that's disappointing."