ON THE FALCONS BEAT
ON THE FALCONS BEAT

Falcons hold 7-0 lead after first quarter

12/31/2017 -- Atlanta, GA, - Atlanta Falcons cheer for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) as he heads into the tunnel before the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes Benz Stadium, Sunday, December 31, 2017. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM

Credit: ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJ

Credit: ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJ

12/31/2017 -- Atlanta, GA, - Atlanta Falcons cheer for Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) as he heads into the tunnel before the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes Benz Stadium, Sunday, December 31, 2017. ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM
By
Dec 31, 2017

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan connected with running back Devonta Freeman for a 19-yard touchdown pass on the teams’ first possession against the Panther Sunday.

The Falcons led the Panthers, 7-0, at the end of the first quarter.

The Falcons can wrap up a playoff berth with a victory over the Panthers.

It was the just the fourth time this season the Falcons scored a touchdown on their opening possession. The 10-play drive covered 75 yards and took 4 minutes, 28 seconds off the clock.

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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