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Finger-pointing is exactly what the Panthers must avoid now, notes 14-year veteran Muhsin Muhammad. (PHOTO: ANDREW MASON / PANTHERS.COM)

CHARLOTTE -- With the offense only accounting for 49 points in the last four games, it would be easy for its participants to fall into the trap of assessing blame. Doing so, however, would introduce a toxic element that must be avoided at all costs; the burden of responsibility for the Panthers' struggles must be borne collectively, regardless of what individual statistics might reveal.

"Everybody's got to hold a little responsibility," wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "You can't just point one finger here or there and say it's one or the other. It's a little bit of everybody, and everybody has to take ownership.

"I think when you get in this situation, you look at yourself first. You get into situations and start pointing your fingers, saying, 'It's this guy,' or 'It's that guy,' 'It's him,' 'It's him,' then that's when it falls apart."

Too much has gone wrong for the offense in recent weeks to easily cure what has ailed it. Injuries played a part; running back DeAngelo Williams missed the game against the Buccaneers and Jake Delhomme has missed the last two weeks with a broken finger on his right hand.

But it was left tackle Jordan Gross's fractured leg that proved a turning point. He succumbed in the second quarter of the win over Atlanta, a game in which the Panthers scored 28 points, giving the offense 75 points over the first three games of November, a 25.0-point average. In the four games without Gross, the average dropped by just more than 50 percent, to 12.3 points per game.

"We're without some key guys; it's not like wholesale changes. But our struggles in the passing game continue," said head coach John Fox. "I think we've run the ball pretty consistently. Contrary to popular belief I'd like to be able to throw the ball better. The reality is we haven't."

But when it came to shouldering collective responsibility for the offense's struggles -- particularly through the air -- Fox agreed with Muhammad.

"There (are) a lot of moving parts," Fox said. "I don't think it's just the quarterback. That's easy to sit and be critical of. Sometimes I think it's been protection; sometimes I think it's been routes; sometimes I think it's been the throw. That's kind of where it is, and all we can do is try to improve it."

Mere improvement isn't what the offense expected its goal to be after averaging over 30 points a game in the last seven weeks of the 2008 season.

"I don't know. I definitely don't," said offensive lineman Travelle Wharton, who moved over to left tackle when Gross was hurt, leaving first-time starter Mackenzy Bernadeau to handle left guard chores. "For us, I think it's continuing to go out here and trying to get better. Every time we step out, I go and work on our craft. I don't know."

ADDING TO THE LITANY OF INJURIES was a knee injury incurred by right tackle Jeff Otah on Sunday, although it was a flare-up of his shoulder problem that forced him to the sideline late in the loss. Otah has been battling shoulder pain this year, but played through it and has not missed a start this year. Geoff Schwartz took his place at right tackle.

OTHER INJURIES OF NOTE from Sunday were to cornerback Richard Marshall, who hurt his ankle, and Jonathan Stewart, who injured his toe. Marshall, who described his ankle as "not good," limped to the sideline in the first quarter Sunday but returned. He said he would receive treatment on the injured ankle Tuesday and Wednesday and would see how it responded after that.

Delhomme also remains "day-to-day" with the broken finger on his throwing hand.

"I'm not sure it's as far along as he had hoped or we would have hoped," Fox said during his weekly segment on the Panther Talk radio show Monday evening.

SITTING AT 5-8 means that Bank of America Stadium isn't merely at the corner of Mint and Morehead Streets, but at the intersection of disappointment and frustration.

"Of course there's disappointment and frustration. I feel like we're a better football team than what our record shows," defensive end Julius Peppers said. "But that doesn't mean anything. The record is what we go by. What I think and how I think the makeup of this team is doesn't really matter. But it's frustrating to know that we could have won a couple of (more) games."

"It's been disappointing," added safety Chris Harris. "Coming off 12-4 last season to 5-8 now is very disappointing. We've just got to keep learning and fighting. ... One thing I like about this team -- no matter what's going on, guys are going to keep fighting."

Motivation for that fight can come from a variety of sources -- not the least of which is the chance to play spoiler to someone else's hopes.

"If I can't be in the playoffs, I'm going to ruin someone else's chances," Harris said. "That's my mentality; that's how I take things."