Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons: Complete Week 17 Preview for Carolina
The final week of the NFL regular season is here, along with plenty of key games to determine playoff berths. One such game will be played between the Carolina Panthers (6-8-1) and the Atlanta Falcons (6-9). The winner of this will claim the NFC South and advance to the playoffs as the fourth seed. The stakes couldn't be much higher, and the matchup couldn't be any better.
The finale of 2014's edition of the I-85 rivalry was not expected to play host to such a big game, especially one that featured two teams with losing records. But, that will happen late Sunday afternoon. The Panthers enter the game on the tails of a three-game winning streak, while the Falcons have won four of their last seven following the team's bye week.
Both teams have been playing better since their respective losing streaks, and this game could ultimately come down to who executes better and commits the fewest mistakes.
Cam Newton will try to lead Carolina to its fourth division championship and its first back-to-back titles. Matt Ryan and company have been down this road before and will be trying to do the same thing as well. There are key matchups everywhere, but an argument could be made that this is not the same Carolina team Atlanta defeated in Week 11.
Both fanbases would love to receive a late Christmas present in the form of a playoff appearance. The Carolina fans would find it even sweeter after a strong start that was followed by a seven-game winless streak. Couple that with the moves made in the offseason, and the Panthers would be in a position nobody expected after losing in Week 13.
A Carolina win secures a trip to the playoffs and a first-round home game. The Panthers have been a hot team in December the past four seasons, and that trend could be to its advantage Sunday.
Carolina Panthers Week 16 Recap
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Cam Newton improved to 4-1 all time against former Heisman trophy winners. Johnny Manziel continued to get rocked in the NFL and found himself watching the second half from the sidelines after a close encounter with Colin Jones and Luke Kuechly knocked him out of the game late in the second quarter. The Panthers defeated the Browns 17-13 in front of a highly charged fanbase at Bank of America Stadium.
Jonathan Stewart continued to run the ball well and accounted for the touchdown that ultimately gave Carolina the victory—a nine-yard strike from Newton that proved to be the death knell for Cleveland. Stewart would end the day with 122 yards on 24 carries. His contributions carried the team total to 209 rushing yards on the day—its second-highest total of the season.
Defensively, Carolina was strong for the third consecutive week. The only mishap occurred on a blitz that allowed Jordan Cameron to get into the Panthers defensive backfield, evade the secondary and haul in an 81-yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer. Aside from that play, the extent of Cleveland's point production came via two field goals.
This was a big game for the Panthers as there was no margin for error. The win was the team's first against an AFC opponent on the year.
News and Notes
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Kuechly, Olsen Receive Pro Bowl Nods
Luke Kuechly and Greg Olsen have been doing their part on their respective sides of the football. As a result, they have been rewarded for those efforts.
Kuechly received the most votes among inside linebackers and was named to his second Pro Bowl. His 2014 season consisted of 145 tackles, three sacks and an interception.
Olsen has always been a valuable asset—both in Chicago and in Carolina—but never found his way to the NFL's all-star game. This season changed all that with his setting career highs in both catches (82) and receiving yards (981).
It's hard to argue with the fact that Carolina would not be in a position to win the division without either man's production.
Offensive Line Appears Set
Assuming there are no injuries or problems up front, the Carolina offensive line should continue to feature the starting combination of Ryan Kalil (C), Andrew Norwell (LG), Byron Bell (LT), Trai Turner (RG) and Mike Remmers (RT).
Both Norwell and Turner are rookies and have looked impressive. Turner's effectiveness hasn't been much of a surprise as his abilities in college led to his third-round selection. Norwell has been a pleasant surprise as he was undrafted and took over as starter late in the season when Nate Chandler went down with a season-ending injury.
Ron Rivera and Mike Shula will count on this particular group to lead the team Sunday and hopefully beyond. The running game has improved dramatically, and Cam Newton has been able to make plays with both his arm and legs. This line may not be the starting unit seen next season, but based on its performance as of late, there is reason to believe Carolina can become deep with a steady mix of seasoned veterans and talented youth in the near future.
See Stewart Run
As noted above, the running game has improved dramatically as of late because of the improvement of the offensive line.
The primary benefactor has been Jonathan Stewart, who has been the league's leading rusher over the past four weeks (78 carries, 437 yards). Interestingly enough, the Panthers have refrained from naming him the starter with the possibility of DeAngelo Williams' return to the offense.
However, it would be foolish to go away from the team's hottest player of late because Stewart has made a habit of finding holes and cutting back to the inside. The ability to elude was the catalyst for his best years as an NFL running back. Expect a heavy dose of Stewart against Atlanta on Sunday.
Frank Alexander Added to Roster
As noted in last week's game preview, defensive end Frank Alexander was reinstated. Earlier this week, Carolina added him to the roster. This move gives the Panthers some added depth on the outside edge.
Based on how well the young players have stepped up over the past few weeks, Alexander could be more of a package or situation player against the Falcons. It should be interesting to see if defensive coordinator Sean McDermott moves rookie Kony Ealy to the inside to accommodate Alexander on the edge. His experience should give the Carolina pass rush an extra boost.
Injury Report
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| Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
| A.J. Klein, OLB | Knee | Questionable |
| DeAngelo Williams, RB | Hand | Probable |
As of this writing, the Carolina Panthers appear very healthy and ready to go. Only two players have made the weekly injury report after it was initially released Wednesday. However, both A.J. Klein and DeAngelo Williams could play this weekend.
If not, expect Adarius Glanton to continue filling in for Klein at outside linebacker. He had a good day last week against Cleveland and has proved to be a reliable substitute.
Jonathan Stewart should be starting this weekend regardless of whether or not Williams is ready to go. The duo's bread and butter has always been spelling each other and moving the ball with their own unique style. Stewart's production as of late should make him the hands-down feature back at Atlanta.
Injury report courtesy of Panthers.com
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Josh Norman vs. Julio Jones
Julio Jones and Matt Ryan are on the same page as of late, but Josh Norman is playing some good defense. His awesome interception last week was blemished by his fumble immediately afterward, but if there is a guy the Panthers trust to cover one of the league's best receivers, it's Norman.
The young cornerback from Coastal Carolina has proved his mettle against the likes of Josh Gordon, Mike Evans and even Jones this season. Norman limited Jones to six receptions for 59 yards in the teams' first meeting this year. Norman has taken a gladiator mentality to the game, and it has shown on the field. Essentially, this could prove to be the game's most crucial matchup.
Cam Newton vs. Atlanta's Defense
Cam Newton can beat opponents in a variety of ways. He has started running the ball a lot more freely since his Week 11 encounter in Charlotte, and that will be an element the Falcons will have to compensate for defensively.
Newton has been hot and cold in the passing game, but when he is on, he can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. If he can have the kind of game in his hometown of Atlanta that he did at New Orleans (21-of-33 for 226 yards, three touchdowns, 90.0 QBR), Carolina should be in prime position to retain its division title.
Making sound decisions, being accurate and limiting mistakes will all be keys to Newton playing at a high level against a sometimes questionable Atlanta defense.
Carolina Field-Goal Unit vs. Atlanta Special Teams
Graham Gano saw two of his kicks blocked in the first meeting, and both could have been the difference in winning or losing. Unfortunately, he was put in a position where both kicks were long, and as of late, Gano has struggled to be accurate from beyond 45 yards.
The Carolina offense has struggled inside the opponent's territory since routing New Orleans, especially in the red zone. If the Panthers see similar struggles and have to kick the field goal, better field position and better blocking will be needed to tack on the points.
Carolina's X-Factor of the Week: Jonathan Stewart
This is not really a surprise as he has been the Panthers' workhorse in December. If he continues his trend of strong running, the Carolina offense should be able to open the playbook and catch the Falcons defense off guard.
Atlanta's defense is not good (32nd in pass defense, 18th in rush defense), and Carolina has the personnel to make it a long day for the Falcons. Stewart can be a weapon in the running game and passing game, so he should be heavily involved in the offense. A 100-yard effort shouldn't be surprising for Stewart if the line continues to play well.
Prediction
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There is no need to further stress the importance of this game. Winner takes all and advances to the postseason. The all-time series may favor the Falcons, but lately, this rivalry has been fun to watch. Cam Newton will be playing in front of his family as he returns home, so a big game on his part could propel Carolina to its fourth division title.
Nobody expected this game to determine a division winner, especially with both teams sporting losing records.
Carolina has proved it can win on the road and against very good home teams despite a 2-4-1 mark. Atlanta is undefeated against the NFC South but 3-4 at home. Ultimately, it will come down to which team shows up for either squad.
The Falcons team that won at New Orleans last week will be a formidable opponent at home, but if Carolina's defense continues to play dominant football, this game could be a low-scoring affair.
The Panthers advance with a win or a tie, and given how far this team has come in the last quarter of the season, it would be a shame to miss out on the playoffs. Carolina edges Atlanta in an overtime thriller.
Prediction: Carolina 20, Atlanta 17 (Overtime)
Team and player information courtesy of Panthers.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com
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