Carolina Panthers (2-12) – Atlanta Falcons (6-8): 9-7
The NFC South is the target of mockery this season. This match is certainly not going to improve public opinion on this division. When the most notable things about a match are the rain and the empty stands, you know in advance that you haven't witnessed a great match. Certainly, matches played under a flood rarely produce a great spectacle. This meeting was no exception.
The two teams had diametrically opposed objectives. The Falcons, as surprising as it may seem, are still in the race for the playoffs despite a negative record, and had to win to continue to exist in their three-way match with the Saints and the Buccaneers. The Panthers were looking to win for only the second time this season. No tanking, Carolina. Either way, their first-round draft pick doesn’t belong to them.
A global offensive catastrophe
Yes, Atlanta is a team that is not far from the playoffs. Impossible to guess, watching this match. The Falcons' offense, the supposed strong point of this team, was catastrophic. Only 204 small yards on the clock. Desmond Ridder (12/20, 152 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) looks like anything but an NFL starter. The running game, although the strong point of this team, was non-existent. 52 yards, only 1.7 yards per carry, difficult to do worse.
Opposite, the Panthers' attack was far from stellar either. But the difference is that it's not new. And, for all their faults, they at least looked like they were fighting. Bryce Young (18/24, 167 yards), without targets and with a porous line, showed signs of talent, encouraging for the future. Chuba Hubbard (22 carries, 87 yards) also fought well on the ground.
Atlanta scuttles in style
The first half was terrible, with a series of 8 series which ended with a punt, before Atlanta scored a touchdown and Carolina a field goal. If anyone has the crazy idea of watching this match, a little advice: watch the match from the last two minutes of the third quarter. You will see the perfect demonstration of how to lose a match.
Facing a team, as previously said, without many offensive weapons, the Falcons had the ball on their 20 yards following a punt. The moment chosen by Bijan Robinson, catastrophic in this match, to lose the ball. The Panthers recover the ball, and score a field goal to get back to one point.
Atlanta, on the following drive, will succeed through Tyler Allgeier moving up the field well. But Desmond Ridder being Desmond Ridder, he's going to throw a nasty interception into the hands of Xavier Woods. The rest is a very well constructed drive by Carolina, with Bryce Young who finally looks like a high draft choice, and perfect clock management.
Inglourious victory for the Panthers
€100,000 question: with the ball on the opponent's two yards on the first attempt, 1 minute 41 to play and the Falcons with no timeouts, what did the Panthers do? To please their (meager) audience who stayed despite a mediocre show and a capricious weather and playing for the touchdown, or playing small arm for a victory more significant than important, the first of their interim coach? Yes, the second solution. Bryce Young kneeled three times, Chris Tabor took a timeout with one second remaining, and Eddy Pineiro scored the winning field goal from 23 yards.
After this meeting, it is difficult to counter the arguments of those who consider the NFC South as an aberration. If the Saints and Buccaneers aren't great teams, the Falcons and Panthers are even worse. Please don't let this Atlanta team go to the playoffs, not after the show they put on today.
