Charlotte, N.C.— The Atlanta Falcons showcased their versatility in a decisive win over a division rival, demonstrating they have multiple ways to secure a victory.
Bijan Robinson rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyler Allgeier added 105 yards and a game-clinching score as the Falcons defeated the Carolina Panthers 38-20 on Sunday. This victory marks Atlanta’s third win over an NFC South opponent in three weeks.
Just a week after Kirk Cousins threw a franchise-record 509 yards in a 36-30 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had a more subdued outing, completing 19 of 30 passes for 225 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Drake London.
Robinson explained how the Falcons’ offensive strategy leaves opposing defenses guessing. “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,” he said. “When you can do both, it’s really hard for a defense because they’re left wondering, ‘OK, what do we do?’”
The Falcons took advantage of a depleted Panthers defense, which has allowed a league-high 203 points in just six games — the ninth most in Super Bowl history and the highest since the 2020 Dallas Cowboys. Carolina has now given up 34 or more points in four games this season.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris praised his team’s ability to adapt, noting they rushed for 198 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry by capitalizing on what the Panthers offered. “Last week we threw it 58 times for 509 yards, and this week we ran for 198,” Morris said. “That shows the sign of a good football team — being able to find different ways to win.”
For the Panthers (1-5), Andy Dalton completed 26 of 38 passes for 221 yards, with two touchdown passes but two interceptions in the fourth quarter as they suffered their third straight loss. Carolina was trailing 28-20 early in the fourth quarter and had momentum with Chuba Hubbard converting three first downs on the ground before Dalton’s deep shot was intercepted by A.J. Terrell, abruptly shifting the game’s momentum.
The Falcons seized the opportunity, methodically advancing 84 yards in nine plays for a clinching touchdown. Behind the dynamic duo of Robinson and Allgeier, Atlanta ran the ball seven times for 70 yards, ultimately resulting in Allgeier’s 2-yard touchdown run with 5:38 remaining.
“In those situations in a one-score game, we’ve got to finish,” said Panthers coach Dave Canales. “We need to learn how to put together a complete game and be able to score when it matters.”
The Falcons (4-2) took a 22-17 lead into halftime, thanks to Robinson’s touchdown runs of 5 and 7 yards, along with a perfectly thrown touchdown pass from Cousins to Landon on a slant route on third down.
However, the Panthers contributed to their struggles with self-inflicted errors, including three false starts, a bad snap, a dropped pass, a blown blocking assignment, and a miscommunication on a handoff that forced Dalton to scramble for a minimal gain. Additionally, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after Atlanta’s second touchdown led to a 2-point conversion run by Allgeier from the 1-yard line.
Despite the challenges, Dalton connected on two touchdown passes — a 10-yarder to Diontae Johnson and a 7-yarder to rookie Xavier Legette just before halftime — keeping the Panthers within reach.
Morris credited his defense for holding Carolina to a field goal in the second half and for intercepting Dalton twice to secure the win. “We talked about running the South,” he said. “Any time you have a chance to achieve three wins in a row, that’s incredible. We want to keep winning, so why not continue the streak?”
Up Next:
Falcons: Plays Seattle next Sunday at home.
Panthers: At Washington next Sunday.
