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Falcons 19, Panthers 17
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Bryant’s fourth field goal of the game, a 44-yarder with 2:08 remaining, was enough for the Atlanta Falcons in a 19-17 victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina kicker Graham Gano was wide left on a 46-yard field goal attempt with 1:22 left after the Falcons had exhausted their timeouts. Gano’s 63-yarder on the game’s last play was deflected by rookie defensive end Ra’Shede Hageman at the line of scrimmage.
Cam Newton threw two touchdown passes in a three-minute span of the fourth quarter as the Panthers rallied from a 13-point deficit to take a 17-16 lead. He was sacked twice and had two interceptions.
Atlanta used a 12-play, 54-yard drive consuming 4:12 to set up the winning field goal.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed 31 of 45 passes for 268 yards and one touchdown.
Newton threw for 292 yards, but had just 99 coming into the fourth quarter. He completed 23 of 37 passes.
The Panthers took their only lead with 6:20 left when wide receiver Philly Brown, as he was falling to his back in the end zone, hauled in a 47-yard pass from Newton on the second play of a possession that covered 69 yards.
Newton’s 22-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin — his eighth this season — brought the Panthers to within 16-10 with 9:12 remaining.
The Falcons (4-6) won back-to-back games for the first time. All four of their victories are against NFC South teams, including two in a row on the road.
The Panthers (3-7-1) have lost five games in a row and dropped into third placed in the NFC South.
Benjamin’s touchdown pass came because the 6-foot-5 rookie outreached cornerback Desmond Trufant. He had nine receptions for 109 yards. Earlier, Trufant returned an interception 19 yards to the Carolina 14-yard line on the third play of the third quarter. But Atlanta settled for Bryant’s 26-yard field goal and a 9-3 lead.
The Falcons were more efficient the next time they had the ball, driving 55 yards for a touchdown on Ryan’s 2-yard pass to wide receiver Roddy White with 6:34 left in the third quarter.
Atlanta was in position to build on a 16-3 lead until wide receiver Devin Hester’s fumble at the Carolina 30.
Bryant kicked two second-quarter field goals — from 34 and 42 yards — as Atlanta held a 6-3 halftime edge.
The second field goal came after the Falcons moved into range in the last 1:35 of the first half.
Carolina scored first on Gano’s 23-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter. That concluded a 17-play drive that went 83 yards and lasted 9:05.
NOTES: Atlanta is 2-4 on the road, with both wins coming in the past two games. … Falcons DT Jonathan Babineaux departed in the first half with a knee injury, but he was back later in the game. … Panthers S Thomas DeCoud played his first six NFL season with the Falcons until joining Carolina this season. … Panthers DT Star Lotulelei missed the game after suffering an ankle injury Monday night at Philadelphia. DT Colin Cole started in his place. … The Falcons are home the next two weeks, beginning next Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. … The Panthers have their off week before two road games, going first to Minnesota on Nov. 30.
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