FALCONS 45, PANTHERS 28: FALCONS RECAP

A quick look at Sunday’s 45-28 victory over Carolina at the Georgia Dome that improved the Falcons to 7-4.

HERO

Harry Douglas. The Falcons rookie receiver/returner ran for a touchdown, returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown and had four catches for 92 yards. One of those catches was a huge 69-yard reception (see key play).

GOAT

John Fox. We don’t understand the play calling of Carolina’s coach. A week after running for 264 yards, the Panthers went three-and-out on their first three possessions. On the first two series, the Panthers attempted passes on four of the six plays (one sack). By the time the Panthers touched the ball for the third time, they were behind 17-0.

KEY PLAY

After a Panthers touchdown and two-point conversion made the score 24-21 with 10:57 left, the Falcons took over. The Georgia Dome got quieter when the Falcons faced third-and-11 from the 25-yard line. Matt Ryan hooked up with Harry Douglas on a 69-yard completion that gave the Falcons the ball on Caro-lina’s 6-yard line. The Falcons scored a touchdown four plays later (see key call).

KEY CALL

Four plays after Harry Douglas’ huge catch and run, the Falcons faced a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. No hesitation. Coach Mike Smith elected to go for it despite leading by three points. Michael Turner took a handoff, bounced off a would-be tackler and scored the third of his four touchdowns.

KEY STAT

NFC South teams are 20-2 at home after the Falcons split their season with the Panthers. The Falcons are 2-2 in the division with a home game against the Buccaneers and a road game against the Saints remaining.

KEY HIT

Falcons defensive end John Abraham had one sack, but it was big one. Trailing 17-3, the Panthers were moving late in the first half. With 46 second left and facing a third-and-11 from the Falcons’ 40-yard line, Abraham came up the middle and sacked Jake Delhomme for an 8-yard loss, ending the threat.

THREE THINGS WE LEARNED

1. We can still talk playoffs. After the four division leaders (Giants, Buccaneers, Bears and Cardinals), the Panthers (8-3) and Redskins (7-4) are sitting in the wild-card spots. The Falcons (7-4) and Cowboys (7-4), however, are right there.

2. Michael Turner already has broken one team record. He’s about to break another. Turner tied Gerald Riggs with 13 touchdowns, second in franchise history. He has five games to break Jamaal Anderson’s record of 14. Earlier this season, Turner broke Riggs’ team record for yards rushing in a game.

3. Third downs are still a concern. The Falcons converted 5 of 14 opportunities, including 1 of 7 in the first half.