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CAROLINA
First Half Results
ATLANTA |
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23.5
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Final
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| 301 | CAROLINA | -3 | | 302 | ATLANTA | 23 |
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| All Games | 11-4 | +7.1 | 9-5 | 5-10 | 23.0 | 11.0 | 318.4 | (5.3) | 1.1 | 14.7 | 6.7 | 300.9 | (5.3) | 1.9 | | Road Games | 4-3 | +1 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 19.7 | 8.6 | 305.1 | (4.9) | 1.1 | 17.9 | 8.7 | 304.1 | (5.1) | 1.6 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +1 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 20.0 | 9.7 | 284.3 | (5.4) | 0.3 | 21.3 | 11.0 | 345.0 | (5.4) | 1.0 | | Dome Games | 1-2 | -1.3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 18.0 | 8.7 | 319.7 | (5.3) | 1.3 | 21.0 | 9.0 | 304.3 | (5.3) | 1.7 | | Division Games | 4-1 | +3 | 4-1 | 1-4 | 24.4 | 11.6 | 316.8 | (5.5) | 1.0 | 14.6 | 9.8 | 306.0 | (5.3) | 1.8 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 23.0 | 11.0 | 20.1 | 32:18 | 30-126 | (4.2) | 18-30 | 62.1% | 193 | (6.5) | 60-318 | (5.3) | (13.8) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 22.3 | 11.5 | 19.6 | 30:27 | 27-111 | (4.1) | 22-35 | 61.1% | 227 | (6.5) | 62-338 | (5.4) | (15.2) | | Offense Road Games | 19.7 | 8.6 | 20.0 | 32:55 | 29-122 | (4.3) | 20-34 | 59.4% | 183 | (5.4) | 63-305 | (4.9) | (15.5) | | Defense (All Games) | 14.7 | 6.7 | 17.2 | 27:42 | 22-88 | (4) | 23-35 | 66.3% | 213 | (6.1) | 57-301 | (5.3) | (20.4) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.4 | 11.8 | 19.3 | 30:07 | 27-110 | (4.1) | 21-34 | 61.3% | 223 | (6.5) | 61-334 | (5.4) | (14.9) | | Defense Road Games | 17.9 | 8.7 | 18.0 | 27:05 | 21-84 | (4) | 25-38 | 66.0% | 220 | (5.7) | 59-304 | (5.1) | (17) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 13-6 | 43.5% | 1-1 | 76.9% | 2-39 | (21.5) | 2-19 | (10.6) | 5-42 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 14-5 | 38.8% | 1-0 | 43.8% | 2-52 | (22.9) | 20-2 | (9.4) | 6-56 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 14-6 | 42.6% | 1-1 | 85.7% | 2-50 | (23.3) | 2-28 | (12.9) | 6-46 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | | 13-5 | 35.2% | 1-0 | 20.0% | 1-27 | (22.6) | 2-20 | (9.1) | 5-47 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | | 14-5 | 37.0% | 1-0 | 42.2% | 2-50 | (22.7) | 18-2 | (8.8) | 6-54 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 | | 14-5 | 34.7% | 1-0 | 25.0% | 1-26 | (20.2) | 3-24 | (9.3) | 5-41 |
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| All Games | 4-11 | -10.2 | 6-9 | 9-6 | 22.2 | 12.7 | 345.5 | (5.6) | 1.8 | 28.1 | 13.9 | 385.8 | (6.3) | 1.3 | | Home Games | 3-4 | -4.9 | 3-4 | 5-2 | 23.3 | 14.0 | 332.6 | (5.7) | 1.0 | 26.1 | 13.9 | 404.9 | (6.4) | 1.3 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 24.0 | 16.0 | 310.0 | (5) | 2.0 | 27.3 | 11.0 | 396.3 | (6.5) | 3.0 | | Dome Games | 3-6 | -6.9 | 3-6 | 5-4 | 21.4 | 12.7 | 331.9 | (5.5) | 1.4 | 25.9 | 14.6 | 400.1 | (6.5) | 1.2 | | Division Games | 1-4 | -3 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 19.8 | 12.6 | 344.4 | (6.4) | 2.2 | 27.6 | 15.0 | 382.6 | (5.9) | 0.8 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 22.2 | 12.7 | 20.7 | 30:04 | 20-78 | (3.9) | 28-41 | 67.4% | 267 | (6.5) | 61-346 | (5.6) | (15.6) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 21.4 | 11.1 | 19.2 | 30:58 | 26-108 | (4.1) | 21-35 | 61.2% | 223 | (6.4) | 61-332 | (5.4) | (15.5) | | Offense Home Games | 23.3 | 14.0 | 20.4 | 29:55 | 19-55 | (3) | 29-40 | 73.0% | 278 | (6.9) | 59-333 | (5.7) | (14.3) | | Defense (All Games) | 28.1 | 13.9 | 20.6 | 30:08 | 28-136 | (4.8) | 22-33 | 66.7% | 250 | (7.7) | 61-386 | (6.3) | (13.7) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.8 | 11.8 | 19.6 | 31:32 | 28-117 | (4.2) | 21-34 | 61.3% | 222 | (6.6) | 62-340 | (5.5) | (14.9) | | Defense Home Games | 26.1 | 13.9 | 21.3 | 30:05 | 27-121 | (4.5) | 24-36 | 65.0% | 284 | (7.8) | 63-405 | (6.4) | (15.5) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.8 | -0.5 | 13-5 | 42.9% | 1-0 | 38.5% | 2-44 | (23.5) | 2-14 | (8) | 6-49 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 13-5 | 37.1% | 1-0 | 44.7% | 2-55 | (22.8) | 20-2 | (9.8) | 6-54 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 12-5 | 43.0% | 1-0 | 33.3% | 2-33 | (21.1) | 1-10 | (6.7) | 5-53 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 | | 13-6 | 46.2% | 1-0 | 63.6% | 1-36 | (24.5) | 2-15 | (7.5) | 7-56 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 1 | 0.6 | 1.6 | | 14-5 | 37.8% | 1-0 | 43.0% | 2-46 | (21.9) | 19-2 | (8.8) | 6-54 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | | 14-7 | 47.9% | 1-1 | 71.4% | 1-25 | (25.3) | 2-19 | (7.8) | 8-69 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: CAROLINA 21.8, ATLANTA 22.1 |
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| 11/3/2013 | ATLANTA | 34-10 | W | -8.5 | W | 47 | U | 33-131 | 23-37-242 | 2 | 20-78 | 20-27-211 | 4 | | 11/10/2013 | @ SAN FRANCISCO | 10-9 | W | 6 | W | 43 | U | 30-111 | 16-32-139 | 2 | 24-105 | 11-22-46 | 2 | | 11/18/2013 | NEW ENGLAND | 24-20 | W | -3 | W | 45.5 | U | 23-103 | 19-28-197 | 0 | 25-107 | 29-40-283 | 2 | | 11/24/2013 | @ MIAMI | 20-16 | W | -4.5 | L | 40 | U | 29-136 | 19-38-159 | 1 | 17-52 | 28-42-280 | 1 | | 12/1/2013 | TAMPA BAY | 27-6 | W | -7 | W | 40.5 | U | 34-163 | 18-29-263 | 2 | 20-66 | 14-21-140 | 2 | | 12/8/2013 | @ NEW ORLEANS | 13-31 | L | 3 | L | 47 | U | 23-128 | 22-34-111 | 0 | 17-69 | 30-42-304 | 0 | | 12/15/2013 | NY JETS | 30-20 | W | -10 | T | 40.5 | O | 36-131 | 16-24-261 | 0 | 28-157 | 15-28-140 | 1 | | 12/22/2013 | NEW ORLEANS | 17-13 | W | -3 | W | 44 | U | 18-81 | 13-22-141 | 1 | 30-126 | 30-45-239 | 2 | | 12/29/2013 | @ ATLANTA | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 11/3/2013 | @ CAROLINA | 10-34 | L | 8.5 | L | 47 | U | 20-78 | 20-27-211 | 4 | 33-131 | 23-37-242 | 2 | | 11/10/2013 | SEATTLE | 10-33 | L | 3 | L | 47 | U | 16-64 | 23-36-162 | 1 | 42-211 | 19-26-279 | 0 | | 11/17/2013 | @ TAMPA BAY | 28-41 | L | 2 | L | 43.5 | O | 20-152 | 24-43-268 | 3 | 38-186 | 20-25-224 | 0 | | 11/21/2013 | NEW ORLEANS | 13-17 | L | 7.5 | W | 52.5 | U | 22-91 | 30-39-264 | 1 | 25-103 | 23-33-271 | 0 | | 12/1/2013 | *BUFFALO | 34-31 | W | 5 | W | 48.5 | O | 30-151 | 28-47-272 | 1 | 31-195 | 18-32-210 | 2 | | 12/8/2013 | @ GREEN BAY | 21-22 | L | 3.5 | W | 47.5 | U | 23-83 | 20-35-202 | 2 | 33-112 | 24-32-222 | 2 | | 12/15/2013 | WASHINGTON | 27-26 | W | -5.5 | L | 49.5 | O | 21-54 | 29-38-189 | 2 | 21-103 | 29-45-373 | 7 | | 12/23/2013 | @ SAN FRANCISCO | 24-34 | L | 14.5 | W | 46.5 | O | 20-61 | 37-48-341 | 2 | 30-199 | 13-21-180 | 0 | | 12/29/2013 | CAROLINA | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | CAROLINA: New offensive coordinator Mike Shula was promoted from QB coach, so there won't be many offensive changes. Carolina uses a zone-blocking scheme in a number of looks, from spread to wishbone. Jonathan Stewart figures to lead the RB committee in carries, with DeAngelo Williams in a No. 2 role and Mike Tolbert splitting time at halfback and fullback. They use a lot of zone read options with Cam Newton, who could very well lead the team in rushing again as Shula is committed to letting his star pupil make plays.
This is a vertical passing game that works off the threat of the run. Shula will continue to make it a point to feed Steve Smith any time he's in single coverage. Smith still does most of his work downfield. Flex TE Greg Olsen serves as essentially a No. 2 receiver, working up the seam most of the time but also coming back on some checkdowns in the middle of the field. They started to work in Brandon LaFell last year as a catch-and-run guy, and he figures to kick inside when they increasingly go three-wide with field-stretcher Domenik Hixon outside. The red zone will continue to be where Newton takes over. He had nearly half the team's rushing attempts inside the 10 last year, and he and Tolbert essentially split goal line chances. When they throw, Olsen figures to be the No. 1 target.
This defense will need another year or two before becoming an above-average unit. LB Luke Kuechly led the NFL with 164 tackles as a rookie, and the Panthers drafted two large DTs in Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short who will be great down the road. But although no Carolina player had more than two interceptions in 2012, the team did nothing to bolster its secondary. The best cover men are underwhelming CBs Josh Norman and Josh Taylor, and top SS Haruki Nakamura has no business being a starter in the NFL. | | ATLANTA: Atlanta finally transitioned to a pass-first offense in offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter's first year, though with new No. 1 back Steven Jackson replacing over-the-hill Michael Turner, they at least have the threat of a running game now. Koetter brought in more zone looks, and they should continue to move away from the man blocking of past regimes. Jackson can play three downs, but they may be careful with his workload to keep him fresh for the playoffs. They trust No. 2 back Jacquizz Rodgers in the passing game and on some runs out of spread looks, and they'll rotate Jason Snelling in as well.
The biggest addition Koetter made to the passing game was more bubble screens, which proved to be one of their best weapons. They use a lot of motion to create mismatches and effectively use bunch formations for added confusion. Roddy White remains Matt Ryan's favorite target, while Julio Jones is frequently used either downfield, or on those bubble screens. Ryan's second look is usually for TE Tony Gonzalez up the seam. Atlanta gets more balanced in the red zone, and that should hold true with Jackson replacing Turner as the red zone and goal line back.
The Falcons are hoping disgruntled DE Osi Umenyiora seriously helps a pass rush that totaled nine sacks in the second half of the year. Atlanta ranked 24th in yards allowed last season (366 YPG), but forced 31 turnovers (T-4th in NFL), including a dozen in the final five games. Atlanta departed with veteran DE John Abraham and CBs Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson, but the secondary is still loaded with FS Thomas DeCoud (6 INT), CB Asante Samuel (5 INT) and rookie CB Desmond Trufant. The front seven has questions, but both top tacklers, LBs Sean Weatherspoon and Stephen Nicholas, are now healthy. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (CAROLINA-ATLANTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(UPDATES with Panthers WR Smith out)
*Panthers-Falcons Preview* ==========================
By JOHN KOSIK STATS Editor
Earning their first trip to the playoffs in five years was not enough for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, who still have plenty to play for in Week 17.
With the NFC South crown still up for grabs and an outside shot at the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, the visiting Panthers will try to wrap up the division and a first-round bye with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Newton struggled all afternoon last Sunday in a crucial matchup against New Orleans, but he again made big plays down the stretch, throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 23 seconds left to lift the Panthers (11-4) to a 17-13 win and their first playoff berth since 2008.
"Cam was very resilient," coach Ron Rivera said. "He struggled all day and he knows that. But he came through when we needed him."
Newton had just 116 yards passing in the game's first 59 minutes before taking over at the Carolina 35 trailing 13-10 with 55 seconds to go and no timeouts.
Playing on a sore ankle and with receiver Steve Smith on the sideline because of a left knee injury, Newton completed passes of 37 and 14 yards before Hixon made his diving catch on the left side of the end zone. It was the third time since mid-November that Newton marched the Panthers downfield on their final possession to win a game.
Carolina can clinch the South and a first-round bye with a win, and still has a chance to earn the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. That would require a victory over Atlanta, a win by San Francisco at Arizona and St. Louis beating Seattle.
"When we were 1-3 there was a lot of what-ifs, a lot of people that were jumping off the bandwagon," Newton said. "It was a lot of finger-pointing and saying, `I told you so.' But as a team we stuck together and didn't veer off and had faith in each other."
Securing a bye has become even more important for Carolina after Smith went down with a sprained posterior cruciate ligament only 8 minutes into last Sunday's game. The 34-year-old, who has 746 receiving yards this season, will not  Atlanta but should be fine for the playoffs.
"It was very good news considering the alternative," Rivera said Monday after an MRI revealed the nature of the injury. "Where he sprained it and the lack of severity there was, that was all positive news. It really was. And I'm excited and very happy for Steve."
Rivera said Ted Ginn Jr. will take Smith's starting spot and see the majority of reps against the Falcons, but said Hixon and Brandon LaFell could also see plenty of action. The team is also likely to activate wide receiver Marvin McNutt as its No. 4 receiver.
"If we can win this week we get a break, and that's huge," middle linebacker Luke Kuechly said. "It's going to be tough. The Falcons are a good team and they have good weapons. They're much better than their record shows."
Coming into 2013 with high expectations after falling 10 yards shy of reaching the Super Bowl, Atlanta (4-11) may be relishing its chance to play spoiler at the end of a very disappointing season.
If the Falcons win, the Saints can claim the NFC South crown by beating Tampa Bay.
Atlanta, which has been outscored by 74 points in the second half this season, blew a third-quarter lead in a 34-24 loss at San Francisco on Monday night in a rematch of last season's NFC championship game.
"We're just not making the plays when they're presented to us to win those types of games," coach Mike Smith said. "And that's something that we have to continue to work on and get right for this last game against Carolina."
The absence of Smith won't necessarily limit the Panthers' offense, but they may turn to more of a ground game against Atlanta, which is allowing the second-most rushing yards per game (135.9) in the NFL this season.
Newton will surely find plenty of space to make plays, and he's averaged 8.3 yards per carry over his five career games against the Falcons.
Atlanta is last in the league in rushing yards at 78.1 per game and the Panthers boast the No. 2 run defense (87.7 allowed), so the Falcons' offense figures to rely heavily on the right arm of Matt Ryan.
Ryan has eclipsed 4,000 passing yards for the third straight season but has a career-worst 16 interceptions after signing a five-year contract extension last summer. He threw three of those in Carolina's 34-10 home win in Week 9, a point total that matches Atlanta's season low.
The Falcons have averaged 33.0 points in winning all five games at home against the Panthers since Ryan came into the league.
This may be the final career game for tight end Tony Gonzalez, who returned this season hoping for a chance to win his first Super Bowl only to watch the Falcons crumble.
The future Hall of Famer has still been productive at age 37 with 803 receiving yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns. He holds virtually every major career record at his position, including catches (1,321), yards (15,071) and touchdowns (111).
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/27/2024 4:40:01 PM EST. |
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