CHARLOTTE, N.C. – DeShaun Foster scored two touchdowns and became the first Carolina back to go over 100 yards this season while helping the Panthers snap a three-game losing streak against Atlanta.
It also gave Carolina a two-game NFC South lead over the Falcons, and a one-game advantage over Tampa Bay – setting up another huge division showdown next week against the Bucs.
It was Michael Vick's first loss to Carolina in six starts. Despite his long history of running wild against the Panthers, Vick was bottled up all day and failed to create much offense.
"Mike had a lot of success against these guys and I know they had that in the back of their heads," said Carolina linebacker Chris Draft, who spent five seasons in Atlanta. "So this is like finally getting the monkey off their back."
Atlanta 3 3 0 0 – 6
Carolina 7 7 0 10 – 24
First Quarter
Atl–FG Peterson 36, 4:02.
Car–Foster 18 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), :31.
Second Quarter
Atl–FG Peterson 43, 11:41.
Car–S.Smith 18 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), 3:51.
Fourth Quarter
Car–FG Kasay 20, 6:33.
Car–Foster 6 run (Kasay kick), 2:19.
A–73,661. Time–3:01.
| Atl |
Car |
|
| FIRST DOWNS |
14 |
14 |
|
| Rushing |
5 |
6 |
|
| Passing |
8 |
8 |
|
| Penalty |
1 |
0 |
|
| THIRD DOWN EFF |
7-17 |
5-15 |
|
| FOURTH DOWN EFF |
0-1 |
1-1 |
|
| TOTAL NET YARDS |
259 |
306 |
|
| Total Plays |
63 |
61 |
|
| Avg Gain |
4.1 |
5.0 |
|
| NET YARDS RUSHING |
120 |
142 |
|
| Rushes |
23 |
34 |
|
| Avg per rush |
5.2 |
4.2 |
|
| NET YARDS PASSING |
139 |
164 |
|
| Sacked-Yds lost |
5-32 |
0-0 |
|
| Gross-Yds passing |
171 |
164 |
|
| Completed-Att. |
17-35 |
17-27 |
|
| Had Intercepted |
2 |
1 |
|
| Yards-Pass Play |
3.5 |
6.1 |
|
| KICKOFFS-EndZone-TB |
3-0-0 |
5-0-0 |
|
| PUNTS-Avg. |
6-35.7 |
7-44.6 |
|
| Punts blocked |
0 |
0 |
|
| FGs-PATs blocked |
0-0 |
0-0 |
|
| TOTAL RETURN YARDAGE |
148 |
93 |
|
| Punts Returns |
3-20 |
0-0 |
|
| Kickoffs Returns |
4-113 |
3-56 |
|
| Interceptions |
1-15 |
2-37 |
|
| PENALTIES-Yds |
4-37 |
3-38 |
|
| FUMBLES-Lost |
0-0 |
1-0 |
|
| TIME OF POSSESSION |
27:40 |
32:20 |
|
| |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–Atlanta: Dunn 16-80, Vick 3-36, Duckett 4-4. Carolina: Foster 24-131, S.Davis 5-8, Delhomme 4-1, Hoover 1-2.
PASSING–Atlanta: Vick 17-35-2-171. Carolina: Delhomme 17-27-1-164.
RECEIVING–Atlanta: Finneran 4-31, Crumpler 3-52, White 3-35, Jenkins 3-32, Griffith 2-13, Dunn 1-6, Duckett 1-2. Carolina: S.Smith 7-65, Foster 3-49, Colbert 3-24, Hoover 3-20, Proehl 1-6.
PUNT RETURNS–Atlanta: Hall 1-17, Finneran 1-5, Rossum 1-(-2). Carolina: None.
KICKOFF RETURNS–Atlanta: Rossum 1-47, Hall 1-23, Griffith 1-22, Pathon 1-21. Carolina: Smart 2-46, Hoover 1-10.
DEFENSIVE LEADERS
(Tackles-Assists-Sacks)
Atlanta: Brooking 7-4-0, D.Williams 5-5-0, Hall 6-1-0, Babineaux 4-1-0. Carolina: Lucas 7-1-0, Draft 6-2-1, McCree 6-1-0, Witherspoon 4-2-½, Carstens 3-1-0, Minter 1-3-½.
INTERCEPTIONS–Atlanta: Scott 1-15. Carolina: McCree 1-27, Manning 1-10.
MISSED FG–Atlanta: Peterson 49 (SH).
