By Pat Welter

Carolina Panthers	44
Atlanta Falcons	38
F/OT

The Falcons are playing for a playoff spot they just need some help. A win and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints and Atlanta is in and gets the NFC South Division. It would be Atlanta’s first playoff appearance since 2017. The Panthers won’t be making the playoffs, but don’t tell them they don’t have anything to play for. Head coach Dave Canales made it very clear that Carolina was in it to win it Sunday with all available players set to play.

Falcons rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. making his third start led the Falcons to a field goal on their first drive. Carolina responded with a couple impressive plays to set up a field goal of their own. Bryce Young hit Adam Thielen on a deep fade beating cornerback AJ Terrell with a perfect throw and diving catch. They followed that up with a trick play. Receiver Jalen Coker completed a pass to running back Miles Sanders, who is back from IR.

After the Panthers defense forced a turnover on downs, Young led an impressive 11 play 58 yard drive. Young finished the drive with a two yard scramble up the middle to give Carolina a 10-3 lead with 10:47 left in the 2nd quarter.

Atlanta got their offense in gear through the ground game. Bijan Robinson busted off a few chunk runs and Penix capped off the drive with a 5 yard touchdown run. Penix stretched for the pylon to tie the game 10-10.

Chuba Hubbard done for the season, but Carolina’s other running backs stepping up. Raheem Blackshear’s 26 yard run got Carolina in striking distance. Then three plays later Young found Miles Sanders for a 33 yard touchdown to give the Panthers a 17-10 lead.

Carolina 38 points shy of setting the NFL record for most points allowed entering this game and about on pace here in the first half. Robinson’s three yard touchdown run tied the game 17-17, giving Robinson 83 yards rushing in the first half.

Defense apparently optional in this first half. Falcons got one more in just :37 seconds. Penix hit Drake London on a 20 yard fade pass that only London could catch to give the Falcons a 24-17 lead at the half.

Defense bounced back to start the third quarter when Mike Jackson intercepted Penix. Young made the most of the extra possession finding Tommy Tremble for a 12 yard score to tied the game at 24. Then after a missed Falcons field goal, Carolina capitalized again as Young hit David Moore for a 9 yard score capping off a 9 play drive to take a 31-24 lead.

Panthers still no answer for London who scored again on a 21 yard pass from Penix to tie the game at 31.

Sometimes the best defense is a great offense. Young and the Panthers responded by taking 5:49 off the the clock with a 9 play 70 yard drive ending in another Young touchdown scramble to give Carolina a 38-31 lead.

Why stop scoring now! Falcons tied it up on a 4 yard Robinson run. 38-38 with :46 left in the game. Each team got one more possession in regulation, but couldn’t manage another score as the season finale went to OT!

The Buccaneers beat the Saints to clinch the division and knock Atlanta out of playoff contention. In overtime the Panthers added insult to injury.  Carolina got the ball first and never gave it back.  Miles Sanders scored from 1 yard out to win the game 44-38.

Odds and rankings

Carolina (4-12) at Atlanta (8-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

BetMGM NFL Odds: Falcons by 8 1/2

Series record: Falcons lead 37-22

Against the spread: Panthers 7-9, Falcons 7-9

Last meeting: Falcons beat Panthers 38-20 at Carolina on Oct. 13.

Last week: Panthers lost at Buccaneers 48-14; Falcons lost at Commanders 30-24 in overtime.

Panthers offense: overall (31), rush (20), pass (31), scoring (25)

Panthers defense: overall (32), rush (32), pass (16), scoring (32)

Falcons offense: overall (10), rush (12), pass (8), scoring (16)

Falcons defense: overall (19), rush (14), pass (19), scoring (20)

Turnover differential: Panthers minus-6, Falcons minus-5

Panthers player to watch

WR Adam Thielen is coming off a big game against the Bucs, catching five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns and he remains Bryce Young’s favorite option. Thielen has three TDs in the past two games and when the Panthers need a play in the passing game it’s likely going to Thielen.

Falcons player to watch

QB Michael Penix Jr. has played better than his statistics show in his first two starts. His lack of practice time with Atlanta’s starting wide receivers showed in his inability to develop a connection on deep routes, but his ability to move in the pocket and his clutch fourth down completions late in last week’s loss at Washington are reasons for encouragement as the Falcons cling to their fading playoff hopes. The Falcons need Penix to lead a win over Carolina and have Tampa Bay lose to New Orleans in order to win the NFC South and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Key matchup

Penix vs. Panthers pass defense. Penix will face a struggling Carolina secondary. Playing without cornerback Jaycee Horn, the Panthers allowed Baker Mayfield to complete 27 of 32 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns last week. The Bucs had wide receivers running open all game as the Panthers secondary looked in disarray.

Key injuries

Panthers: Horn (hip) has been ruled out along with LB Josey Jewell (concussion), OLB Amare Barno (shoulder), DB Lonnie Johnson (shoulder/neck) and OLB DJ Johnson (personal). DT A’Shawn Robinson (neck), OG Robert Hunt (knee), OT Taylor Morton (knee), WR Xavier Legette (hip, wrist) and RB Miles Sanders (ankle) were listed as questionable.

Falcons: CB Kevin King (concussion) is unlikely to return. WR Darnell Mooney (shoulder), LB JD Bertrand (eye) and DL Brandon Dorlus (abdomen) are listed as questionable.

Series notes

The Falcons have won the past three meetings in Atlanta and four of the past six overall.

Stats and stuff

The Panthers are 1-6 on the road under first-year head coach Dave Canales. … QB Bryce Young is 5-22 as an NFL starter. Since returning as the team’s starter in Week 8 against the Broncos, Young has completed 172 of 285 passes (60.4%) for 1,853 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. His 13 completions of 25 or more yards are his most in a eight-game stretch in his career. He has also rushed 38 times for 225 yards and four touchdowns since Denver. Young’s 16 total touchdowns are a career high. … Sanders, who has not played for the Panthers since Nov. 10, was a full participant on Friday and could get the start against the Falcons. … OLB Jadeveon Clowney needs three tackles for loss to reach 110. He ranks 12th among active players in tackles for loss. … The Panthers have allowed an NFL-high 496 points this season. … The Falcons are playing for their first winning record and playoff berth since 2017. … Atlanta’s defense has had three or more sacks in five consecutive games for the first time since 1997. The defense had five sacks last week against Washington. … Bijan Robinson has rushed for two touchdowns in two straight games. The most recent Falcons player to post back-to-back games with multiple rushing touchdowns as Devonta Freeman in 2016. … The Falcons’ 198 rushing yards in their first meeting with the Panthers is their high mark of the season. … LB Kaden Elliss needs 10 tackles to reach 150 for the season.

Fantasy tip

Drake London leads Atlanta’s receivers with 90 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. Darnell Mooney could join London in the 1,000-yard club this week. Mooney has 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns. London, Mooney and No. 3 target Ray-Ray McCloud deserve fantasy consideration against the Panthers pass defense.

Source: wralsportsfan.com