BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The biggest regret from Super Bowl 50 for Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera, other than the outcome?

The curfew.

Rivera had dinner with his team captains and the wives of those who are married four weeks after a 24-10 loss to Denver in Santa Clara, California.

Afterward, they discussed everything from offseason workouts to training camp to what happened in the Super Bowl. The one thing that came up several times was the curfew, set at midnight Sunday through Friday and 11 p.m. the night before the game.

While for the most part the curfew was self-imposed by the players, the meeting revealed it created a situation that wasn’t normal. Players didn’t have curfews during the regular season or the playoffs.

Because the team was headquartered in San Jose, California, more than an hour from the hub of Super Bowl activity in San Francisco, players felt isolated.

“One thing we talked about was how far away it was," Rivera said. “The biggest fear a lot of guys had in talking to them was going up there and not being able to get a quick return. That was on their mind.

“Believe me, I appreciate the fact they were thinking that way."

Rivera said that will change if he gets back to the title game.

“As I look at it, yeah, let them relax a little more,’’ he said. “Let them not feel that they have to be somewhere."

Rivera has had such meetings with his captains the past few years. That has helped him keep a finger on the pulse of the locker room and what he can do to make the environment better -- all part of the process of creating the culture that helped Carolina reach the Super Bowl.

“We included the wives just to hear what they had to say as well," Rivera said. “Their opinions do matter. It was great. It was a nice meeting of the minds. I think we got some clarity on things we need to do.’’

As for the game, Rivera still believes it came down to a series of plays on Carolina’s second drive. It began with an incomplete pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery that was so close Rivera challenged it.

He lost, but officials told him it was so close that had it originally been ruled a completion that would have been upheld.

On the next play, running back Jonathan Stewart left with an injury after a run up the middle for no gain. On the next play, with Stewart not in for added protection, Denver forced quarterback Cam Newton into a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and 10-0 Broncos lead.

That set the tone for the game in which Carolina’s defense played well, but the offense never really got on track.

“And to me that was the one thing that didn’t sit well with me," Rivera said.

Rivera believes he has the pieces in place to make another run at the Super Bowl in 2016. He feels good about his plan to give players an extra week off to recuperate from an extended season before reporting to offseason conditioning April 25.

He has a better understanding of what the plan will be if Carolina gets to Super Bowl LI in Houston.

“The Super Bowl is an event and it’s a game," Rivera said. “As I break it down, my approach is going to be different. It was a good, valuable learning lesson. We’ve taken some things from what happened and what we intend to do.

“I hope to get an opportunity to go back, because I think I’ve got a better feel for it."