Foreman shoulders load as Panthers edge Falcons
He runs for 130 yards and winning score in 31 carries and Pineiro kicks four field goals.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — D’Onta Foreman carried 31 times for 130 yards and a touchdown, Laviska Shenault added a 41-yard burst to the end zone and the Carolina Panthers beat the Atlanta Falcons 25-15 on a rainy Thursday night.
The Panthers (3-7) piled up a season-high 232 yards on the ground, and Eddy Pineiro kicked four field goals after he missed two critical kicks in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Falcons 11 days earlier.
Marcus Mariota finished 19 of 30 for 186 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked five times and and one pass intercepted.
Carolina improved to 2-3 since coach Matt Rhule was fired and replaced on an interim basis by Steve Wilks.
Foreman capped off a crucial seven-play, 84-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown run off right tackle to give Carolina a 19-9 lead with 1:51 left in the third quarter.
The Falcons cut Carolina’s lead to 22-15 when Mariota found a wide-open KhaDarel Hodge for a 25yard touchdown. Younghoe
Koo, who had made 71 straight extra points, missed his second point-after try of the game.
The Falcons got a last shot to tie it, taking over at their 34 with 21⁄2 minutes to play. But Marquis Haynes sacked Mariota twice and the Falcons turned the ball over on downs.
Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson injured an Achilles tendon and did not return, and fullback Gio Ricci suffered a neck injury.