Falcons dodge Panthers’ late challenge
NFL
FALCONS 25, PANTHERS 17
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Ryan threw for 281 yards and ran for a touchdown, Younghoe Koo made four field goals and the Atlanta Falcons held on to beat the Carolina Panthers 25-17 on Thursday night to avoid a series season sweep.
The Falcons (2-6) have had a penchant for squandering leads this season, coming into the game 1-3 when leading entering the fourth quarter. Carolina was driving late, but Atlanta stalled the rally when Blidi Wreh-Wilson intercepted Teddy Bridgewater near the Falcons’ 10-yard line with 1:04 remaining.
Todd Gurley grinded out 46 yards rushing and a touchdown, Julio Jones added 137 yards receiving and the Falcons defense limited the Panthers to 2 of 10 on third down conversions to improve to 2-1 since Raheem Morris replaced Dan Quinn as head coach. The win came in front of a crowd of 5,240 due to covid-19.
Bridgewater tried to spur Carolina to a comeback after Koo missed an extra point that would have made it a two-possession game.
Bridgewater, who was knocked out of the game for two possessions with a neck injury following a late hit that resulted Charles Harris being ejected, took over with the Panthers down by eight points. He completed a 35yard strike to D.J. Moore on third and 18 to move the Panthers into Falcons territory. But Bridgewater’s pass was picked off by Wreh-Wilson when he threw a pass up in traffic near the end zone.
Bridgewater was limited to 176 yards passing as the Panthers (3-5) lost their third consecutive game without injured Christian McCaffrey.
The Falcons avenged a 2316 loss to Carolina 18 days ago in which Bridgewater threw for 313 yards and two scores and Mike Davis piled up 149 yards rushing. Davis was held to 77 yards this time on a wet field where players routinely swapped cleats to adapt to the changing conditions.
Atlanta ........................... 6 10 3 6 — 25 Carolina ......................... 7 7 3 0 — 17 First Quarter
Atl—FG Koo 20, 11:14.
Car—Samuel 12 run (Slye kick), 8:14. Atl—FG Koo 37, 2:36.
Second Quarter
Car—Samuel 29 pass from Bridgewater (Slye kick), 12:40.
Atl—Ryan 13 run (Koo kick), 8:02.
Atl—FG Koo 36, :00.
Third Quarter
Atl—FG Koo 29, 6:22.
Car—FG Slye 39, 2:59.
Fourth Quarter
Atl—Gurley 3 run (kick failed), 11:01. Attendance—5,240.
Atl
First downs ................................... 28
Total Net Yards ............................. 401 Rushes-yards ............................ 36-131 Passing ......................................... 270
Punt Returns ................................. 0-0
Kickoff Returns ............................. 0-0 Interceptions Ret . ......................... 1-3 Comp-Att-Int ............................. 21-30-1 Sacked-Yards Lost ....................... 2-11
Punts .......................................... 1-39.0 Fumbles-Lost ................................ 0-0 Penalties-Yards ............................ 6-63
Time of Possession .................... 36:30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Atlanta, Hill 11-55, Gurley 18-46, Ryan 6-27, Ollison 1-3. Carolina, Davis 13-66, Bridgewater 5-30, Chinn 1-28, Samuel 3-23. PASSING—Atlanta, Ryan 21-30-1-281. Bridgewater 15-23-1-176, Walker 1-4-0-3. RECEIVING—Atlanta, J.Jones 7-137, Hurst 5-54, Ridley 3-42, Gage 2-25, Blake 2-14, Hill 2-9. Carolina, Anderson 5-48, Samuel 4-31, Thomas 3-28, Moore 2-55, Davis 1-11, Manhertz 1-6.
Car 18 304 22-147 157 0-0 2-46 1-0 16-27-1 3-22 2-39.0 0-0 6-30 23:30
Carolina,
Buffalo ............. 5 2 0 .714 174 178 Miami .............. 3 3 0 .500 160 113 New England...2 4 0 .333 115 143 NY Jets ............ 0 7 0 .000 85 203
SOUTH
W L T Pct PF PA Tennessee ....... 5 1 0 .833 188 153 Indianapolis ..... 4 2 0 .666 157 115 Houston ........... 1 6 0 .142 166 217 Jacksonville ..... 1 6 0 .142 154 220
NORTH
W L T Pct PF PA Pittsburgh ....... 6 0 0 1.000 183 118 Baltimore ......... 5 1 0 .833 179 104 Cleveland ......... 5 2 0 .714 200 221 Cincinnati ........ 1 5 1 .214 163 194
WEST
W L T Pct PF PA Kansas City ..... 6 1 0 .857 218 143 Las Vegas ........ 3 3 0 .500 171 197 Denver ............. 2 4 0 .333 116 153 LAChargers .... 2 4 0 .333 149 154
THURSDAY’S GAME
Atlanta 25, Carolina 17 SUNDAY’S GAMES
All times Central Indianapolis at Detroit, noon LA Rams at Miami, noon Las Vegas at Cleveland, noon Minnesota at Green Bay, noon NY Jets at Kansas City, noon New England at Buffalo, noon
Philadelphia ..... 2 4 1 .357 163 196 Dallas ............... 2 5 0 .285 176 243 Washington ..... 2 5 0 .285 133 165 NYGiants ........ 1 6 0 .142 122 174
SOUTH
W L T Pct PF PA Tampa Bay ...... 5 2 0 .714 222 142 New Orleans .... 4 2 0 .667 180 174 Carolina ........... 3 5 0 .375 179 193 Atlanta ............. 2 6 0 .250 209 224
NORTH
W L T Pct PF PA Green Bay ........ 5 1 0 .833 197 159 Chicago ........... 5 2 0 .714 138 140 Detroit ............. 3 3 0 .500 156 165 Minnesota ....... 1 5 0 .166 155 192
WEST
W L T Pct PF PA Seattle ............. 5 1 0 .833 203 172 Arizona ............ 5 2 0 .714 203 146 LA Rams ......... 5 2 0 .714 176 124 San Francisco . 4 3 0 .571 181 136