The Carolina Panthers traveled to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face the Atlanta Falcons in a divisional rematch from Week 11 and were not only looking for redemption, but they were also aiming to break their four-game losing streak under the new leadership of interim head coach Perry Fewell.
Atlanta began the game with possession of the ball and neither team put up any points on their opening drives. The Falcons put the first points up when Younghoe Koo kicked a 37-yard field goal to close out the second drive which lasted just under six and half minutes Atlanta led 3-0 with 2:47 on the clock and would keep the lead into the next quarter.
The Panthers answered with a field goal score of their own in the next drive, the first drive of the second quarter when Joey Slye connected from 46 yards out to tie the game 3-3.
Both teams traded punts but in their following possession, the Falcons put the first touchdown up when Matt Ryan connected with Calvin Ridley for the 18-yard touchdown and a seven-point lead over the Panthers, 10-3 with just over five minutes left in the half.
During the next possession, the Falcons intercepted the ball not once, but twice, with the first interception call being reversed on replay, yet Kyle Allen threw another interception in the next play and Damontae Kazee took it for a 22-yard return. The Falcons didn’t capitalize on the interception and went three-and-out.
During the Panthers’ following drive Atlanta cornerback Desmond Trufant was injured and it was announced later in the game he would not return. Kyle Allen and Christian McCaffrey were able to get the ball just short of the endzone before Ian Thomas took it for the one-yard touchdown, Slye kicked the extra point and the Panthers tied the game, 10-10 with just over one minute to go to in the half.
The Falcons took full advantage of the minute of game time and Koo finished the first half with a 35-yard field goal to take the lead 13-10 as the clock expired and the first half ended.
Carolina opened the second half with possession of the ball, but Vic Beasley Jr. sacked Allen forcing a fumble and Tyeler Davison recovered the ball for Atlanta ending the Panthers’ opening drive.
Atlanta capitalized on the interception in their opening drive when Ryan connected with Devonta Freeman for a 13-yard touchdown and a 10-point lead over Carolina, 20-10. During the next Falcons’ possession, Ryan threw a career-long 93-yard touchdown pass to rookie Olamide Zaccheaus for his first career touchdown and a 17-point lead.
The Panthers’ offense fumbled the ball on the return and Koo came up with the recovery, putting the Falcons’ offense right back on the field. Koo finished out the drive with another field goal, this time from 29 yards and gave the Falcons a 20-point lead with just under five minutes on the clock, 30-10.
Carolina’s offense continued to struggle through the next several drives which included a fumble (that was recovered by the Panthers) and another interception by Kazee which turned into three more points.
The Panthers finally more points on the board in the following drive when Joey Slye closed out the drive that included a nullified touchdown with a 42-yard field goal, bringing the Falcons’ lead back down to 20 points.
Carolina would put one more score on the board, but not before Brian Hill rushed the football for a three-yard touchdown to give the Falcons seven more points, 40-13. Then in the Panthers’ last drive, the longest of the game at 13 plays, Allen rushed the ball one yard to get into the endzone with a minute and a half left to play.
The Falcons ended the game in the next possession and won their fourth game of the season by 20 points, 40-20. Atlanta faces the San Francisco 49ers next week and will have to play without Trufant, who is out for the rest of the season with a broken arm and Calvin Ridley, who also was injured in Sunday’s game will also miss the rest of the season with a groin injury.
The Panthers, losing their fifth straight game, will face the Seattle Seahawks next week back home in Charlotte.
You never forget your first TD.
Congrats, @LlamaDay. pic.twitter.com/QpSGa5KqKG
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 9, 2019
Too many turnovers 🙁https://t.co/oND32Lx8Oc
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 8, 2019
