ATLANTA, Ga. – The Atlanta Falcons hosted the Carolina Panthers for an NFC South showdown. The Falcons (4-4) grabbed the lead over the Panthers (2-6) just minutes into the fourth quarter, but a back-and-forth shootout saw the game head to overtime tied at 34 a piece. The Falcons took the win in overtime off a game winning field goal.
The Panthers got on the board first on a 37-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro. Atlanta got on the board in the second quarter on a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota to tight end Kyle Pitts. Running back D’Onta Foreman scored from two yards out to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead. Carolina regained possession but linebacker Lorenzo Carter picked off quarterback PJ Walker and took it back for six to give the Falcons a 14-10 lead at the break.
The Panthers tacked on a 42-yard field goal on their opening possession of the second half. Mariota hit running back Tyler Allgeier for a 25-yard touchdown catch, increasing Atlanta’s lead to 21-13. Foreman bulldozed in from one-yard out and successfully completed the two-yard rush for the two point conversion tying the game at 21. Atlanta received the ball back and were at midfield after one play after a 30-yard run by Caleb Huntley. The Falcons tacked on a 30-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo.
On the Panthers next drive, Walker hit wide receiver Terrance Marshall for a 39-yard gain. The big pass play led to a 12-yard touchdown run by Foreman. The Falcons responded with a long touchdown. Mariota hit wide receiver Damiere Byrd in the middle of the field, who then out ran the Carolina secondary for a 47-yard touchdown. The Falcons took a 31-28 lead with 2:14 remaining.
Atlanta tacked on a 34-yard field goal after stopping Carolina on fourth-down. With just over twenty seconds remaining, Walker hit wide receiver DJ Moore for the 62-yard touchdown tying the game up 34-34, extra point pending. Moore was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taking his helmet off after scoring the touchdown. That made the extra point a 48-yard attempt. Pineiro missed the extra point sending the game to overtime.
Atlanta received the ball first in overtime. Mariota was picked off by defensive back CJ Henderson, who returned the ball back to Atlanta’s 22-yard line. Carolina brought out Pineiro for a 32-yard field goal that would win the game. Pineiro missed the kick, keeping the Falcon’s hopes of winning alive. The Falcons drove down to the Carolina 23-yard line and brought out Koo for the 41-yard game winning field goal.
FOR(3)MAN:
Carolina running back D’Onta Foreman ran for 118-yards in the game and also scored three touchdowns.
UP NEXT:
The Falcons host the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1:00 p.m. The Panthers travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals (4-4) on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1:00 p.m.
