Eddy Pineiro kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired and the Carolina Panthers turned their lone lead of the game in a 9-7 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon at rainy Charlotte, N.C.
The game-winning drive covered 90 yards on 17 plays, chewing up the final 7 minutes, 35 seconds while knocking the Falcons (6-8) out of a share of first place in the NFC South.
Quarterback Bryce Young was 18 of 24 for 157 yards as Carolina (2-12) won for the first time under interim coach Chris Tabor since the firing of Frank Reich.
Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder was 12 of 20 for 152 yards with a touchdown and a costly fourth-quarter interception. Atlanta had only 204 yards of total offense.
The Falcons appeared in position to extend their lead by driving to the Carolina 18-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. But Ridder’s second-down pass was intercepted by Xaiver Woods at the Panthers’ 3.
Weather conditions were bad at the start of the game and deteriorated amid downpours.
Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard gained 87 yards on 22 carries.
Atlanta’s rushing attack was stymied as the Falcons managed only 52 yards on the ground.
The Falcons scored first on Cordarelle Patterson’s 2-yard reception from Ridder with 4:49 left in the second quarter.
Carolina made it 7-3 by halftime on Pineiro’s 34-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining before the break. That marked the five consecutive games that Carolina went to halftime with three points.
The Panthers closed within 7-6 on Pineiro’s 25-yarder with 13:32 remaining after a third-down sack disrupted the drive. That followed an Atlanta fumble that gave the Panthers good field possession as they moved only 17 yards prior to the field goal.
Both teams moved into the other team’s territory on their first possessions of the game, but ended up empty on failed fourth-down plays.
The Panthers avenged a season-opening loss on the road against the Falcons.
–Field Level Media