Falcons at Panthers
The Carolina Panthers think they’re a different team than the one that was torched in a road loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4, and they’ll have to prove it in a rematch at home on Saturday to keep alive their slim playoff hopes. The Falcons, meanwhile, are closing in on clinching a playoff berth and hope to keep their high-octane offense rolling after posting back-to-back blowout wins.
The Falcons are clinging to a one-game lead over Tampa Bay in the NFC South and can clinch the division title with a win and a Buccaneers loss or tie. Atlanta has topped 40 points in consecutive games and five times overall this season, including the 48-33 home victory after which Carolina defensive coordinator Sean McDermott recalls a miserable flight home. “Honestly? I wanted to open a window and jump,” McDermott told the Charlotte Observer. “That’s why you can’t sleep at night. ... The plays that get away.” The Panthers have won two straight to keep hold of their dwindling postseason hopes, but they need to capture their final two games and get a ridiculous amount of help from four teams.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Falcons -2.5. O/U: 52
ABOUT THE FALCONS (9-5): Atlanta’s offense has continued to put points on the board even without star receiver Julio Jones, who has missed the last two games with a sprained toe but will play Saturday. Matt Ryan, who rolled up 503 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Week 4 win, is putting up MVP-like numbers and spreading the ball around, as 11 different players have caught scoring passes. Atlanta has struggled to stop the pass but has been able to come up with big plays and force turnovers with a defense led by linebacker Vic Beasley, who leads the league with 14 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (6-8): Carolina’s defense has been a liability for most of the season and has been especially bad against the pass, but the team has forced eight turnovers in consecutive wins. The offense also came to life in last week’s 26-15 triumph at Washington, rolling up 438 total yards – the Panthers’ highest total since Week 2. Cam Newton is coming off one of his best passing performances of the year as he threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns against the Redskins, while Jonathan Stewart rushed for a season-high 132 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ryan has recorded 17 touchdown passes and three interceptions in his last seven road games.
2. Carolina TE Greg Olsen has made 25 catches for 384 yards and a score over his last four division contests.
3. Despite missing the last two games, Jones leads the NFL with 1,253 receiving yards.