Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Anthony Rizzuti

Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons game recap: Everything we know

Buy Panthers Tickets

Well, it wasn’t as crazy as the first meeting between these two teams, but the Carolina Panthers got themselves a much more favorable result on the Atlanta Falcons this time around.

Here’s everything we know from Thursday night’s victory.

Final score: Panthers 25, Falcons 15

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Keys to the game

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
  • Despite his handful of dangerous throws, quarterback PJ Walker didn’t implode. Unlike last week in Cincinnati, the third-year passer kept control of the rock—completing 10 of his 16 attempts for 108 yards and zero turnovers.
  • In turn, running back D’Onta Foreman—with a little help from a big run by wideout Laviska Shenault Jr.—was able to pace the offense on the ground once again. He totaled a season-high 130 rushing yards and a touchdown off 31 carries.
  • After getting busted up for 241 rushing yards by the Bengals on Sunday, the Carolina defense tightened up against a run-heavy offense. The Panthers racked up five sacks of quarterback Marcus Mariota and held the Falcons to 291 total yards.

It was over when . . .

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

After Eddy Piñeiro’s third field goal make of the night gave the Panthers a 22-9 lead, the Falcons attempted their comeback with just over nine minutes remaining in the game. But, obviously, it was not to be.

Back-to-back sacks by linebacker Frankie Luvu and defensive end Brian Burns—on third and fourth down tries—resulted in a turnover on downs at the Atlanta 40-yard line at the 7:36 mark. While the Falcons made a bit of noise late in the fourth, the deficit was ultimately too large to touch.

Players of the game

Grant Halverson/Getty Images
  • RB D’Onta Foreman: 31 carries, 130 yards, one rushing touchdown
  • LB Frankie Luvu: 12 tackles (two for loss), 2.0 sacks
  • DT Derrick Brown: six tackles (two for loss)

What's next?

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The 3-7 Panthers, who are now just a game and a half out of first place in the NFC South, will hit the road in Week 11 to take on the Baltimore Ravens.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.