The Carolina Panthers got back to their winning ways on Sunday, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 19-13. Carolina outscored quarterback Matt Ryan and the Falcons 10-3 in the second half. The Panthers (4-4), are back to being a .500 team after dropping their last four contest.
The Panthers’ defense was able to control the Falcons’ offense, forcing two interceptions by Ryan and only allowing them 213 yards of total offense.
One of the picks was made by the Panthers’ linebacker Shaq Thompson, who made his return Sunday. Thompson had been sidelined since Week 4 against the Dallas Cowboys, when he suffered a foot injury.
Ryan had one of the worse statistical game in his 14 year career, throwing for just a mere 146 yards. He was pressured and sacked three times and suffered a gash on his non-throwing hand, that was accidently stepped on by Carolina’s defensive lineman Morgan Fox. He was able to remain at the controls for the Falcons, but had to wear a black glove for protection.
Atlanta (3-4), had won two consecutive games, but blew a golden opportunity to climb above .500 for the first time in four seasons.
With his starting job at stake, quarterback Sam Darnold bounced back from an early benching last week in a 25-3 loss against the New York Giants, with an outing that was just good enough to get a victory. He threw for a pedestrian 129 yards, but he had a clean game with no turnovers.
Darnold also used his legs as a weapon, rushing for 66 yards, the second-highest total of his career. The last run came at a heavy cost. Darnold sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter and did not return.
On an eight yard naked bootleg play, deep in Atlanta territory, Darnold took a brutal hit to the head from Falcon linebacker Foye Okuokun that almost knocked his helmet off. The signal caller was immediately sent to the blue medical tent. Backup quarterback P.J. Walker had to step in and finish the game.
Walker nearly threw an interception on a bad pass into the end zone, but it was ruled incomplete. Running back Chuba Hubbard completed the drive with a burst up the middle for the Panthers only touchdown of the game. To that point, place kicker Zane Gonzalez had provided the rest of the scoring on field goals of 29, 51, 57 and 23 yards.
Atlanta’s field goal kicker Younghoe Koo had an opportunity to give the Falcons the lead in the fourth quarter, but his 45-yard field goal attempt went wide right. It was his first missed kick of any kind this season, extra point or field goal. Previous to that attempt, he was 11 of 11 on field goals, hitting from 46 yards for Atlanta’s first points, and 14 of 14 on extra points.
All-purpose back Cordarrelle Patterson scored Atlanta’s only touchdown, turning a short pass into a 15-yard touchdown early in the second quarter.
Koo connected on a 53-yard field goal through the uprights with 16 seconds remaining, but the Panthers easily recovered an onside kick to preserve the win.
The Atlanta Falcons travel to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to take on their second straight NFC South opponent, the New Orleans Saints next Sunday. The Carolina Panthers return home Sunday, after two straight road games, to host the New England Patriots.
