Jan 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) runs for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Bryce Young, Panthers prevail in OT as Falcons miss playoffs

ATLANTA — Miles Sanders rushed for the game-winning 1-yard touchdown in overtime and the visiting Carolina Panthers beat the Falcons 44-38 in the season finale on Sunday, eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.

Bryce Young completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more scores on the ground, as Carolina (5-12) scored a season-high 44 points.

Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Falcons (8-9), who needed a win paired with a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans in order to win the division. Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two scores.

The Panthers won the first possession of overtime and never let it go, driving 70 yards to end the game with a touchdown and keep the ball out of Atlanta’s hands.

Trailing 24-17 at halftime, Carolina tied the game after Mike Jackson intercepted Penix’s pass, leading to Young’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 10:43 left in the third quarter.

After Riley Patterson missed a 52-yard field goal, Carolina regained the lead with Young’s 9-yard touchdown pass to David Moore with 1:02 remaining in the third.

The Falcons matched the score with Penix’s 21-yard touchdown strike to London at the 9:50 mark of the final quarter, tying the game at 31.

Carolina then scored on its third straight drive, as Young’s 10-yard rushing touchdown stamped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with 4:01 left in the game.

Robinson’s second rushing score, this time a 4-yarder, tied the game at 38 with 46 seconds remaining.

The teams traded field goals on their opening drives. After the Falcons turned the ball over on downs at the Panthers’ 42-yard line, Carolina scored the game’s first touchdown on Young’s 2-yard scramble with 10:47 left in the second quarter.

Atlanta answered with a 70-yard drive that included London’s 24-yard reception and Robinson’s 15-yard rush, before Penix ran it from 5 yards out to knot the score at 10 with 5:27 left in the half.

Carolina then took a 17-10 lead on Young’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Sanders, but Robinson tied the game again with a 3-yard rushing score.

Following a Carolina punt, Penix led Atlanta on an 81-yard drive in 37 seconds, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown pass to London with three seconds left for a 24-17 halftime lead.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) prepares to pass the ball in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

With both in playoff hunt, Chargers travel to take on Falcons

Two teams vying to bolster their postseason chances will meet in Atlanta on Sunday when the Falcons host the Los Angeles Chargers.

Atlanta (6-5) still holds a one-game lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, despite dropping its past two games. The Falcons are seeking their first winning season and playoff appearance since 2017. A win Sunday would go a long way in accomplishing both.

Two weeks ago, Atlanta lost 38-6 on the road to the Denver Broncos. The offense managed just 226 total yards, while producing its lowest point total of the season. The Falcons’ defense didn’t fare much better, as the unit was gashed by rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who threw four touchdowns.

After a much-needed bye week, quarterback Kirk Cousins and the rest of the Falcons understand what’s ahead.

“We’ve all had a great chance to recharge and refill the tanks for this stretch run here,” Cousins said. “You have six games left and we have to earn the right to go play a seventh. You talk about the ‘whys’ behind everything. Why are we where we are, good or bad, and then how to fix it? … It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s another thing to go do it. That’s what’s so important about the next six weeks, that we take what we gathered on the bye and put it to use.”

Cousins, in the first year of a four-year, $180 million contract in Atlanta, has thrown for 2,807 yards — good for fifth in the NFL. The 36-year-old veteran uses this part of the season as a time to examine where the team is entering the tail end.

“You certainly need to put yourself in a position before Thanksgiving to be playing for something meaningful after,” Cousins said. “We’re in a place where we can control our destiny, and that if we go out and execute at a high level, we can go where we want to go. I’ve been on teams where you weren’t in the hunt around Thanksgiving, and that’s a tough place to be. But no one is going to give us anything, you’ve got to go earn it.”

If the final six weeks go according to plan, Cousins would become the first Falcons quarterback since Matt Ryan in 2008 to lead the team to the playoffs in his first year.

Standing in Atlanta’s way are the Los Angeles Chargers, a team with its own postseason aspirations.

Under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers (7-4) hold the second AFC wild-card spot, sandwiched between the 8-4 Baltimore Ravens and 7-5 Broncos. Each team has an advantage over the 5-6 Miami Dolphins, who are out of the current picture.

After starting the year 3-3, the Chargers won four games in a row before dropping their home game Monday to the Ravens, 30-23. In a battle between Jim and his brother John, Los Angeles squandered a 10-0, second-quarter lead. Making matters worse, starting running back J.K. Dobbins suffered an MCL sprain in his left knee in the loss, and is expected to be out this week. He is considered week-to-week beyond that.

Chargers backup running backs Gus Edwards and Hassan Haskins will try to account for the absence of Dobbins, who’s rushed for 766 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

“I like them a lot,” Harbaugh said of Los Angeles’ running backs. “Gus is heating back up, great to have him in there. Hassan is really playing spectacular football, special teams, pass protection, he’s had some crucial first-down pickups for us in short-yardage. … I’m excited to see them out there.”

The Chargers’ defense has been outstanding this season, allowing an NFL-best 15.9 points per game. However, Harbaugh knows not to discount Cousins.

“(Kirk) is just the consummate pro,” Harbaugh said. “Consistently good every game. He’s got a knack, a great feel for the game. He’s super tough, competitive as they come. Nothing but respect.”

Cousins’ counterpart Justin Herbert has thrown for 2,404 yards, 13 touchdowns and just one interception for Los Angeles.

Along with Dobbins, linebackers Khalil Mack (rest) and Denzel Perryman (groin), safety Alohi Gilman (hamstring), cornerback Cam Hart (ankle) and tight end Will Dissly (groin) did not practice Wednesday for the Chargers.

For Atlanta, wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Achilles) and cornerbacks Dee Alford (hamstring) and Mike Hughes (neck) were among 12 players who were limited in practice Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime (23) hurdles over Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III (22) in the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Falcons have bye week to heal, reset from blowout loss at Denver

Following their worst showing of the season, the banged-up Atlanta Falcons are limping into a much-needed bye week.

Atlanta (6-5) was held without a touchdown for the first time this year and allowed a season high in points in falling 38-6 on the road against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

The Falcons’ defense was without cornerbacks Mike Hughes (neck), Dee Alford (hamstring) and Antonio Hamilton (pectoral). Kevin King, an injury replacement, exited Sunday’s game with a concussion. Defensive linemen Ta’Quon Graham (pectoral) and James Smith-Williams (tibia) were also out, along with linebackers JD Bertrand (concussion) and Troy Andersen (knee).

The Atlanta defensive front couldn’t afford the barrage of injuries, as its 10 sacks rank last in the NFL. The Falcons finally reached the double-digit mark in the category against the Broncos when Matthew Judon took down Bo Nix in the final minute of the first half.

Falcons coach Raheem Morris said that Sunday was about more than just an ineffective pass rush.

“We got our butts kicked, and we’ve got to be able to come to grips with that,” Morris said Monday at his press conference. “We’ve got to reset ourselves and get healthy so we can come back and get ready to go full speed. … When looking at yesterday, you can just take a grenade, throw it on the whole game and kind of wipe it away. We didn’t play well in a whole lot of aspects of the game.”

Morris anticipates Andersen, Alford and Hughes will return following the bye week in time for the Week 13 home meeting with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Offensively, the Falcons were held to their lowest point total since Week 3 of 2023, when they lost 20-6 to the Detroit Lions. Younghoe Koo made field goals of 41 and 51 yards.

The Broncos had a 400-226 advantage in total yards, including 105-50 on the ground, as well as more first downs (22-13) though only four more offensive plays (60-56).

Morris didn’t shy away from taking blame for a game in which little went right.

“When you get out-efforted, it’s a reflection on me,” Morris said. “That’s the stuff that I want to be clear and transparent about. We got out-efforted, and I have to be honest about it. I have to tell (the media) the truth, and I’ve got to tell our team the truth. That’s what happened yesterday.

“It’s definitely something that makes coaches furious, but you’ve got to be honest and you’ve got to be able to admit those things to be able to fix them.”

Atlanta enters the bye holding a 1 1/2 game lead over the second-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6) and a two-game edge over the New Orleans Saints (4-7) atop the NFC South.

–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (10) celebrates a touchdown with New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Saints edge Falcons 20-17 to end seven-game losing skid

Derek Carr passed for 269 yards and two touchdowns and the host New Orleans Saints ended a seven-game losing streak with a 20-17 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

Carr completed 16 of 25 passes and Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught three passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints (3-7) won their first game under interim head coach Darren Rizzi after Dennis Allen was fired Monday.

Kirk Cousins passed for 306 yards and Bijan Robinson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons (6-4).

On their first possession of the second half, the Falcons drove to Younghoe Koo’s 27-yard field goal to pull within 17-10, but the Saints took a 20-10 lead on their ensuing possession with a 26-yard field goal by Blake Grupe.

Robinson’s 37-yard touchdown run or the Falcons ftrimmed the lead to 20-17 at the end of the third quarter.

Atlanta had a chance to tie, but Koo missed his third field-goal attempt when his 46-yarder bounced off the right upright.

The Falcons later reached the New Orleans 44, but Tyrann Mathieu intercepted Cousins with 1:59 remaining.

With one last opportunity, and less than two minutes on the clock, Atlanta reached the Saints’ 49, but Chase Young sacked Cousins and the Falcons ran out of time.

The game was scoreless after one quarter, but on the second play of the second quarter Grupe kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Saints a 3-0 lead.

The Falcons had a chance to tie, but Koo, whose career-long 58-yard field goal with two seconds remaining gave them a 26-24 victory in the first meeting in Week 4, was wide left on a 53-yard field-goal attempt.

New Orleans increased the lead to 10-0 on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Valdes-Scantling.

Robinson ran 1 yard for a touchdown on fourth down, pulling Atlanta within 10-7. On the first play after the ensuing kickoff Carr and Valdes-Scantling teamed for a 67-yard completion and three plays later for a 2-yard touchdown pass and a 17-7 lead.

The Falcons had a chance to trim the lead, but John Ridgeway III blocked Koo’s 35-yard field-goal attempt, leaving the Saints with a seven-point halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Oct 3, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Falcons in comfort zone after consecutive comeback victories

If there is a constant with Raheem Morris’ Atlanta Falcons, it is a flair for the dramatic.

Through five games of the Morris regime, the Falcons sit 3-2, with each contest decided by eight points or less. Over the past two weeks, Atlanta has been able to get the job done late in each game.

After beating the New Orleans Saints 26-24 on a last-second Younghoe Koo field goal in Week 4, the Falcons used an improbable comeback on Thursday to top the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 36-30 in overtime.

On defense, and trailing by three points with less than two minutes left, the Falcons forced a punt before Kirk Cousins – who set a single-game franchise with 509 passing yards – led the offense to the 34-yard line with one second remaining. It was just enough time for Koo’s game-tying 52-yarder as regulation expired.

It then took Atlanta just four plays in overtime to go home a winner, as Cousins found the seldom-used KhaDarel Hodge on a walk-off 45-yard touchdown in overtime.

With its work done in Week 5, the franchise is now able to take a collective deep breath ahead of a stress-free Sunday viewing slate.

“I gave the guys a ‘Victory Friday,’” Morris said a day after the most recent win. “They are probably coming in on their own, getting a little bit of treatment if they need it, doing what they need to do in the weight room, but they weren’t required to be in the building today.”

As thrilling as the last two victories have been, the opponents the Falcons have beaten has made the wins even more impressive. In the midst of a three-week stretch against NFC South foes, Atlanta now sits in first place in the division, while holding tie breakers over New Orleans and Tampa Bay.

“The importance of division games are always of high magnitude,” Morris said. “We’ve talked about it from the beginning. To outrun the South, the only way you can do that is beating South opponents. It’s always a big deal to get back-to-back like that, and to do it in a dramatic fashion.”

Now, Morris and the team get a mini-bye week before traveling to face the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 13.

“I’m going to watch everybody play on Sunday,” Morris said, when asked if he’ll watch the Panthers this weekend. “This is the best part about playing on Thursday night. You’re home sitting on your couch on Sunday, watching RedZone on one TV, the local game on the other. I can’t wait.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 1, 2023; London, United Kingdom; Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion (13) reacts against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half during an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Falcons P Bradley Pinion (neck spasms) to play Thursday

Atlanta Falcons punter Bradley Pinion is expected to play on Thursday night despite experiencing neck spasms earlier in the day, the team announced.

Pinion does not carry an injury designation on the game report for the Falcons (2-2) as they host the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1).

Pinion, 30, also shares kickoff duties and serves as the holder for placekicker Younghoe Koo. Atlanta does not have another punter on the 53-man roster or practice squad.

Through four games this season, Pinion is averaging 39.1 net yards on 12 punts with one touchback and two punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

A fifth-round draft pick by San Francisco in 2015, Pinion has played for the 49ers (2015-18), Buccaneers (2019-21) and Falcons. He won Super Bowl LV with Tampa Bay.

–Field Level Media