The Atlanta Falcons are showing they can win in different ways, especially against their rivals.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyler Allgeier added 105 yards and a key touchdown to help the Falcons beat the Carolina Panthers 38-20 on Sunday. This win marks their third victory over an NFC South team in three weeks.
This win follows a game where Kirk Cousins threw a record 58 passes for 509 yards, leading the team to a 36-30 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This week, Cousins completed 19 of 30 passes for 225 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Drake London.
Robinson mentioned that the way the Falcons are playing forces opposing defenses to choose how to stop them.
“That’s where you want to go with the offense, where those guys don’t know if they have to stop the run or the pass,” Robinson said. “And then you’re able to do both, it’s just really hard for a defense because then they’re like, ‘OK, what do we do?’”
The Falcons took advantage of a Panthers defense that has struggled with injuries, allowing the most points in the league this season. They have given up 34 or more points in four games.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris noted that the team’s success in rushing for 198 yards and averaging 5.2 yards per carry came from taking what the Panthers offered.
“Last week we threw it 58 times and threw it for 509 yards, and this week we were able to run for (198), and that is the sign of a good football team when you have to find ways to beat them,” Morris said. “We are taking what you’re giving us and going out there and dealing.”
Carolina’s Andy Dalton went 26 of 38 for 221 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions in the fourth quarter for the Panthers (1-5), who have now lost three in a row.
The Panthers were down 28-20 early in the fourth quarter and had some momentum, moving the ball well on the ground with Chuba Hubbard gaining three first downs before Dalton threw a deep pass that was intercepted by A.J. Terrell.
That interception shifted the game’s momentum.
The Falcons quickly took advantage, marching 84 yards in nine plays for the final touchdown. Relying on Robinson and Allgeier, Atlanta ran the ball seven times for 70 yards and four first downs before Allgeier scored on a 2-yard run with 5:38 remaining.
“You get into those situations in a one-score game and we’ve just got to finish,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “There’s nothing else to say other than that.
We’ve got to finish on our terms and be able to punch that in, get a 2-point opportunity and turn it into a game. We have to learn how to put a full game together.”
The Falcons (4-2) led 22-17 at halftime, thanks to touchdown runs of 5 and 7 yards by Robinson and a well-placed touchdown pass from Cousins to Landon on third down.
