CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mike Tolbert spent the Panthers’ bye on Sunday celebrating his 29th birthday with his wife. When the fullback stole a quick peek at his phone late in the afternoon, he saw a final score of interest: Browns 26, Falcons 24.

“I looked at it, and I was like, ‘That’s what we needed,'” Tolbert said Monday. “It could be meant to be for us to make a push at it.”

It is incredible a three-win team in late November could make a postseason run, but that is what the Panthers continue to believe they can do. After all, someone from the NFC South has to go to the playoffs.

Atlanta’s loss made this the easiest scenario for the Panthers: Win their final five games — which includes a matchup with the New Orleans Saints in Week 14 — and hope the Saints lose one of their other five games. If that happens, Carolina wins the division.

Of course, help elsewhere does not matter much if the Panthers cannot help themselves. Their last win came in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. What followed was a tie and six straight losses.

Coach Ron Rivera spent last week’s bye, the latest in franchise history, reading reports written by each of the Panthers’ coaches. He probably did not read anything groundbreaking. From personnel to coaching to execution, there are plenty of reasons the Panthers have lost seven times in two months. But now he is trying to get his team to focus on why they can win, starting Sunday in Minnesota.

“A lot of the why-nots have been written already,” Rivera said. “We’re trying to get past the negativity. We’re trying to look at the positive side of it. I know it’s hard to look at the positive side of being 3-7-1, but we’re past being a young team. We’re past being different players. We’ve played together for over half a season, so we should know. We should understand, and we should be better, and these are the reasons why as we go forward.”

NOTES: FB Mike Tolbert, who came off injured reserve last week, practiced Monday. He is completely recovered from the hairline fracture he suffered below his left knee in Week 3. … LG Andrew Norwell sat out Monday’s practice after he tweaked his hamstring in Week 11. If he cannot go Sunday, Chris Scott would likely start at LG. … CB Bene Benwikere, who has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 5, practiced Monday. He is expected to return Sunday.

REPORT CARD AT THE BYE

–PASSING OFFENSE: D — After throwing two interceptions in his first five games, QB Cam Newton has tossed eight in his last five. His 80.3 QB rating is the worst of his four-year career, but it is not like he has had a lot of help. A lack of talent and injuries have decimated the Panthers’ offensive line, which is allowing an average of three sacks per game. For the most part, Newton has only two weapons: WR Kelvin Benjamin and TE Greg Olsen. At least they are two good weapons to have. Benjamin has already set franchise rookie records in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns while Olsen is on pace to shatter his club records for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end.

–RUSHING OFFENSE: D-plus — RB Jonathan Stewart leads the Panthers with 323 rushing yards. That ranks him 44th in the league, three spots behind 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. Injuries have forced Stewart, RB DeAngelo Williams and FB Mike Tolbert to miss a handful of games, but Carolina has not been able to run the ball even when those guys have played. Also, Newton, who cracked his ribs in the preseason after offseason ankle surgery, has not been himself as a runner.

–PASS DEFENSE: D — The Panthers are paying DE Greg Hardy nearly $800,000 a week, yet Hardy has been in NFL limbo since September. The former Pro Bowler, who is facing domestic violence charges, is on the Commissioners’ Exempt List, and he will not play again this season. His absence has severely diminished a defense that led the league in sacks last year. The Panthers have just 23 sacks, which rank 18th. The lack of a pass rush has allowed opposing QBs to pick apart a suspect secondary that is allowing an average of 254.9 yards.

–RUSH DEFENSE: D-plus — The Panthers have gotten better at stopping the run lately, but they were leaking all sorts of holes earlier this year. But the overall numbers are not good. They have given up 13 rushing touchdowns. Only the Falcons have allowed more (15). And Carolina’s also allowing an average of 119.1 rushing yards per game, the 10th most in the league.

–SPECIAL TEAMS: C-minus — K Graham Gano had made 18 of his 20 field goal attempts before missing two possible game-winners in Week 11 against the Falcons. Brad Nortman has not been helped by a leaky punt coverage team that has allowed the second-most return yards in the league. Neither Philly Brown nor Brenton Bersin has come close to filling the hole left by former return man Ted Ginn.

–COACHING: C-minus — Everyone is to blame for the Panthers’ record, including the coaches. But they can work only with who they have, and personnel is the team’s biggest issue. Coach Ron Rivera has not been as aggressive as he was during last year’s playoff run. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula has not been able to draw up ways to overcome personnel deficiencies. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who was interviewed for the Redskins’ coaching job last year, will be hard-pressed to get any interviews this offseason.