Miles Sanders scored a 1-yard touchdown in overtime, giving the visiting Carolina Panthers a 44-38 win over the Falcons on Sunday and eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.
Bryce Young completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more touchdowns on the ground. Carolina (5-12) scored a season-high 44 points. Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for the Falcons (8-9), who needed a win and a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans to win the division.
Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two scores.
Carolina won the coin toss in overtime and drove 70 yards, scoring the game-winning touchdown to keep the ball out of Atlanta’s hands. Trailing 24-17 at halftime, the Panthers tied the game after Mike Jackson intercepted Penix’s pass.
Young then threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 10:43 left in the third quarter. After Riley Patterson missed a 52-yard field goal, Carolina regained the lead when Young passed to David Moore for a 9-yard touchdown with 1:02 remaining in the third.
The Falcons answered with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Penix to London, tying the game at 31 with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter.
Carolina responded with Young’s 10-yard rushing touchdown, capping a nine-play, 70-yard drive to take a 38-31 lead with 4:01 left. Robinson’s 4-yard rushing touchdown tied the game at 38 with 46 seconds remaining. Both teams traded field goals on their opening drives in overtime.
Carolina scored the game’s first touchdown after a turnover on downs by the Falcons at the Panthers’ 42-yard line. Young scrambled for a 2-yard touchdown with 10:47 left in the second quarter.
Atlanta answered with a 70-yard drive, highlighted by London’s 24-yard reception and Robinson’s 15-yard rush. Penix finished the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 10.
Carolina then took a 17-10 lead on Young’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Sanders. Robinson tied the game again with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. After a Carolina punt, Penix led Atlanta on an 81-yard drive in 37 seconds, capped by a 20-yard touchdown pass to London with three seconds left to give the Falcons a 24-17 halftime lead.
