The last five minutes of their Week 14 game made Atlanta Falcons fans nervous. It was a two-possession game and the Falcons had it all but wrapped up when Qadree Ollison fumbled the ball almost in Falcons territory. The Panthers then went down and scored in less than two minutes with backup quarterback P.J. Walker in for Cam Newton. The Falcons were then flagged for holding on the first play of their ensuing drive. Two more run plays and two Carolina timeouts later, the Falcons were facing a third and thirteen. Then, Kyle Pitts showed why he is was a top-five pick in this year’s draft on a 22-yard scamper on what was essentially a motioned hand-off from Matt Ryan. After that deflated the Panthers defense, the Falcons were able to run to get another first down and end the game. Again, it is never easy, but after a thrilling 29-21 win, Atlanta Falcons fans can sleep happily knowing their team’s playoff hopes are still alive for another week.
Playoff Hopes for Atlanta Falcons Stay Alive Wsith Win Against Carolina Panthers
Falcons Defense Showed Improvement From First Meeting
The first seven minutes of this game left Falcons fans asking so many questions. After a three and out which possibly had a questionable third-down spot, the Panthers put together a four-minute drive. Carolina’s short passing game and running game refused to be denied. It even ended with two vintage Cam Newton RPO runs in four plays. The latter of which, he barreled through the entire left side of the defense on his way into the endzone.
Cam Newton gets the Panthers on the board 🔥
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/4qJDL40Xko
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 12, 2021
However, after that initial 65-yard march down the field, the Carolina offense was pretty much non-existent for the rest of the half. The Carolina offense had only 77 total yards for the rest of the half and 61 of them came right before the momentum-shifting pick-six touchdown from the up-and-coming linebacker Mykal Walker.
First career interception? A PICK SIX 😏
📺: FOX | @MykalWalker3 pic.twitter.com/dvstICJm74
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 12, 2021
The Falcons defense should be proud of the way that they stymied the Panthers rushing attack. They allowed 91 yards on the ground as compared to the unforgivable 203 given up in the first meeting. Dean Pees stated this week that they were going to focus on the run game, and they did, giving up only 3.5 yards-per-carry.
Offense Held up Their End
The Falcons offense should be given their due as well as they did the one thing that they needed to do to get the victory which was keep the Panthers defense on the field. They did just that as the Falcons held the ball for a whopping 34 minutes and 36 seconds, almost ten minutes more than the Panthers. The Falcons were 7/14 on third down and 2/2 on fourth down and kept drives alive and the Panthers defense exhausted.
Atlanta’s biggest drive may have been in the first half as the Panthers took an early seven-point lead. Matt Ryan and company needed to respond, and they did by converting when necessary. They converted two third-and-longs with two clutch receptions by Russell Gage and another fourth and short by getting the ball to Mike Davis, the former Carolina Panther. If the Falcons punted there, that would have given the Panthers the ball back again, with momentum, at home, with a chance to go up two scores. That drive set the tone that any punches that the Falcons were going to respond to any punches the Panthers could throw.
Looking Ahead
For the Atlanta Falcons, there was a graphic on the telecast that stated that the Falcons have the third-easiest homestretch in the NFL. That lifts the Atlanta Falcons playoff hopes, at least for another week. After a west coast outing against the San Francisco 49ers, they will come back home for what should be an easy home win against the Detroit Lions. After that, they have a road game against the Buffalo Bills. That game will show whether the Falcons actually deserve to be in the playoffs. Then, they end right back at home against their division rival New Orleans Saints. That game could have massive playoff implications as both teams are fighting tooth and nail for the final wild-card spot. The Atlanta Falcons were able to keep their playoff hopes alive for yet another week, but will they be able to make that leap in Arthur Smith’s first year? Time will tell.
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