Kicker Graham set new personal record against Panthers

Graham, the 13-year NFL veteran, wasn’t intimidated by the distance.

“To be honest, I didn’t know how far it was,” Graham said. “My job, when I line up, is to make sure that the eight yards behind the snap is correct. That’s my process. I don’t think of every distance because I need to kick every ball the same.”

With 1:35 remaining and the Falcons leading the Panthers 17-13, coach Dan Quinn decided to go for three points on the Panthers’ 36-yard line.

“Had it been back a yard, we would have punted it. I kind of made the decision that if we made it to that spot, we would kick it,” Quinn said. “I have lots of belief in Shayne and the guys to protect. It really wasn’t one that I discussed with anyone else. There was a lot of quiet time on the headset for that one. We gave ourselves a shot.”

Graham accounted for two field goals and two extra points.

On Graham’s first attempt of the day — a 43-yard kick that would have given the Falcons’ their first lead — became his first miss in his five games with the Falcons.

“I really don’t know (what happened.) There’s a chance someone got a piece of it. There’s a chance it just didn’t come off my foot clean. That’s something I have to clean up,” Graham said. “My job is to not do that again and luckily, we got some opportunities for me to bounce back.”

Graham’s second extra point of the game in the third quarter put the Falcons up 14-10, following wide reciever Julio Jones’ 70-yard touchdown.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the effort and mindset at the end,” Quinn said. “We knew it was going to be a very tough matchup and it was so good having the grit and determination right down there all the way until the end to make some stops. A complete team win and I’m really proud of the effort of the fellas today.”