Falcons clinch NFC South
Panthers tormented by QB Ryan again
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Ryan threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns, and Tevin Coleman had 135 yards from scrimmage, including a pivotal 55-yard fourth-quarter TD run, as the Atlanta Falcons earned a 33-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.
Later in the day, the Falcons (10-5) clinched their first NFC South title since 2012 when Tampa Bay lost at New Orleans.
A few straggling Falcons fans chanted “MVP!” at Ryan in the game’s closing minutes while most Panthers fans had already headed for the exits.
The Panthers (6-9) were officially eliminated from playoff contention after making the Super Bowl last season.
Ryan torched the Panthers for the second time this season. He threw for 503 yards and four TDs in Atlanta’s win over Carolina earlier this season at the Georgia Dome, a victory that set the stage for the Falcons’ playoff push.
After piling up 300 yards receiving in the last meeting with Carolina, Julio Jones had a relatively quiet day in his return from a toe injury — four catches for 60 yards. But Ryan spread the ball around effectively, throwing touchdown passes to backup tight ends Joshua Perkins and D.J. Tialavea, who was signed from the practice squad earlier in the week.
The Panthers had battled back to cut Atlanta’s lead to 23-13 and had Ryan backed up to his 14 on third-and-21 early in the fourth quarter. But Ryan completed a swing pass in the left flat to Coleman, who raced past Thomas Davis for a 31-yard gain.
On the next play, Coleman broke through a big hole up front and raced 55 yards for a touchdown to push Atlanta’s lead back to 17.
Cam Newton, last year’s league MVP, struggled with accuracy throughout the day, completing 18 of 43 passes for 198 yards with two interceptions. His only highlight came on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin in the back of the end zone on the final play of the third quarter.
Carolina will finish with its fourth losing season in six years under coach Ron Rivera. Rivera was named NFL coach of the year in the two seasons in which the Panthers had winning records.
The Falcons still hold out hope to earn the NFC’s second seed and a bye in the postseason.