The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers share more than just disappointing streaks of seven straight losing seasons.
Both teams in the NFC South believe that Sunday’s season finale showed they have found the quarterback who can eventually bring them playoff success—but just not this season.
Bryce Young threw three touchdown passes, ran for two more, and helped lead a 70-yard drive that ended with Miles Sanders scoring a 1-yard touchdown on the Panthers’ first possession of overtime. This gave Carolina a 44-38 win over Atlanta.
The Falcons’ playoff hopes ended just minutes earlier when Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans.
This loss was a tough blow for Atlanta, which had been in first place in the division at 6-3 before dropping off under first-year coach Raheem Morris. The Falcons finished the season 8-9 after giving up 537 yards to Young and the Panthers, leaving Morris with a sense of frustration.
“I was really fired up about the direction we were going,” Morris said about the team’s strong start. “We took a step back today, a huge step.”
Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. ended his three-game stint as Atlanta’s starter with a strong performance, passing for 312 yards and two touchdowns, both to Drake London, who set a career-high with 10 catches for 187 yards. Penix also ran for a touchdown.
Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, but the Falcons’ strong offensive showing wasn’t enough to extend their season.
Both the Falcons and Panthers (who finished 5-12) last made the playoffs in 2017.
Atlanta needed to win and for Tampa Bay to lose in order to claim the division title. The Falcons were one game behind the Buccaneers but could have won a tiebreaker because they had beaten Tampa Bay twice earlier in the season.
Tampa Bay secured a 27-19 win over the Saints just as the Falcons were preparing to kick off for overtime.
“The main message all week was we come out here and win this game and whatever happens in the other game, you know, we can’t control that,” Penix said. “So we just had to come out here and, you know, dominate and get this win and we fell short of that.”
Penix said he wasn’t watching the Buccaneers-Saints game while on the field, even though the result was crucial for the Falcons’ playoff hopes.
Young, who passed for five touchdowns, including 2- and 10-yard runs, set a career-high in scoring. His three passing touchdowns matched his career best as he completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards.
“Everyone understood, you know, we were playing for ourselves,” Young said, adding that coach Dave Canales “talked about finish all week. This is such a great opportunity for us to go and prove what we can do.”
Young, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, had been benched earlier in the season but now looks like the Panthers’ long-term solution at quarterback.
“Bryce is our quarterback,” Canales said. “I’m so proud of the way that he just took the challenge and he just grew every week.”
Penix went 21 of 38 and threw one interception.
“When you have a quarterback like that, you’re cooking with gas,” Morris said.
But the coach’s mood shifted when he discussed the Falcons’ defense.
“We just were not good enough across the board defensively,” Morris said. “I felt like today we couldn’t turn the corner on defense. … Today is a really disappointing day to end it with that bad taste in my mouth.”
Falcons fans cheered in the second quarter and again at halftime after seeing updates showing the Saints leading the Buccaneers. But as the Panthers picked up momentum in Atlanta, Tampa Bay took control of its game and the division.
Young’s third touchdown pass, a 9-yard throw to David Moore, gave the Panthers a 31-24 lead late in the third quarter. Penix responded with a 21-yard touchdown pass to London in the fourth.
“He’s a stud, you know, he’s an accurate passer,” Canales said of Penix. “He threw it down the field, hit some really explosive plays. He’s got arm talent. He’s got the right demeanor, you know, the right finish. And I’m looking forward to a lot of great battles against him.”
Carolina regained the lead on Young’s 10-yard touchdown run with 4:01 left in regulation.
Penix then led the Falcons 70 yards on 11 plays, finishing with Robinson’s 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game with 46 seconds left in regulation.
Sanders Makes Strong Return
After placing their top rusher, Chuba Hubbard, on injured reserve on December 28 due to a strained calf, the Panthers activated Miles Sanders from injured reserve after he had been out with an ankle injury.
In his first game since November 10, Sanders rushed for 61 yards, scored the game-winning touchdown, and also caught three passes for 50 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown.
“I’m just happy that I was out there to showcase what I’m capable of and why I should not be on the … side,” Sanders said.
Injuries
Panthers: Cornerback Akayleb Evans (rib) and defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (calf) were ruled out after getting injured in the second quarter. The defense also had two starters inactive: Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn (hip) and linebacker Josey Jewell (concussion).
Falcons: Cornerback Mike Hughes left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter after being checked for a head injury and cleared in the first quarter. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney (shoulder) was inactive, finishing the season with 992 receiving yards. Linebacker JD Bertrand (eye) and cornerback Kevin King (concussion) were also inactive.
