The Carolina Panthers were so, so close to not only topping the Atlanta Falcons in a wild Week 8 matchup, but also to capturing first place in the NFC South.
Alas, it was not to be . . .
Final score: Falcons 37, Panthers 34
Keys to the game
- The Falcons made a living off the big play, chalking up six plays of at least 25 yards. They finished with 406 total yards while cashing in on half of their third-down attempts (six-of-12).
- Carolina simply wasn’t sharp enough. In addition to a lethal pair of missed kicks by Eddy Piñeiro, the team picked up nine penalties. Their most damaging flag came on wide receiver DJ Moore’s post-touchdown celebration in the fourth quarter—one that, perhaps, aided in Piñeiro’s miss on the game-winning extra point try.
- Atlanta busted the Carolina defense up on the ground, taking 37 carries for 167 yards. And fittingly enough quarterback and birthday boy Marcus Mariota came away with the biggest run of the afternoon, picking up 30 yards to the Panthers’ 24-yard line in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal.
It was over when . . .
Off the heels of the Mariota run, kicker Younghoe Koo booted through a 41-yard game-winner at the 1:55 mark of overtime. Koo was three-for-three on his field goals.
Players of the game
- RB D’Onta Foreman: 26 carries, 118 yards, three touchdowns
- WR DJ Moore: six receptions, 152 yards, touchdown
- DT Derrick Brown: 12 tackles, 0.5 sack
What's next?
The 2-6 Panthers, who are back to last place in the NFC South, will travel to take on the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9.
