The Falcons defeated the Panthers in overtime back in Week 8, but you could argue that they survived the game more than actually winning it. Atlanta allowed DJ Moore to catch a Hail Mary from PJ Walker that should have given Carolina a one-point lead in the final seconds.
However, Moore was penalized for removing his helmet in celebration, which forced the Panthers to attempt a longer extra point than usual. Eddy Pineiro missed the kick, sending the game to overtime where the Falcons would win after a second missed field goal by Pineiro.
On Thursday night, these two NFC South rivals face off again with Atlanta still banged up at the cornerback position. A.J. Terrell has been ruled out and Casey Hayward remains on the injured reserve list.
With that in mind, the Falcons’ No. 1 objective in Week 10 needs to be containing Moore, who finished with six catches for 152 receiving yards and a touchdown in their last meeting. Moore was just five yards shy of tying his career high as the Falcons struggled to contain him in obvious passing situations.
It’s not just the coverage that is to blame for Moore’s big outing. Atlanta’s pass rush has been underwhelming this season. The lack of pressure on Panthers QB PJ Walker back in Week 8 also played a major role in the team’s poor defensive performance. Walker threw for 317 passing yards, including a 67-yard touchdown pass to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
Despite Carolina’s 2-7 record, Atlanta should be prepared for a motivated Panthers team on Thursday night. Not only did they blow a chance to beat the Falcons in Week 8, they were embarrassed by Cincinnati in Week 9.
If the Falcons let the Panthers hang around again in Week 10, they may not get as lucky as they did last time. Tonight’s game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET.
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