Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons: Complete Report Card Grades for Carolina
The Carolina Panthers (7-8-1) clinched the NFC South with a convincing 34-3 win Sunday over the Atlanta Falcons (6-10). The win propels the Panthers to their second division title in as many seasons (becoming the first team from the NFC South to repeat as champs) and is the franchise's fourth since realignment and fifth overall.
Carolina made a statement on defense with a couple of pick-sixes that helped the team to a big victory for the second straight year in Atlanta. Roman Harper and Tre Boston were the playmakers who were able to force the turnovers and score immediately afterward.
Cam Newton did a good job of moving the ball and putting points on the board: He had a passing touchdown and ran for another. The running game seemed to have a bit of a setback this week, but it still generated some yards, and there were enough good things to come out of it despite the low production.
The following game grades will touch on how each unit fared as the Panthers marched all the way to another division crown.
Quarterback
1 of 10
The Carolina defense was so good in this one, Cam Newton was more of a game manager than anything. He didn't throw the ball that much, going 10-of-16 on the day. He accounted for just 114 passing yards and 51 yards on the ground. However, he was able to account for two touchdowns.
The first was a passing play to Ed Dickson. That score gave the Panthers an early 10-0 lead. His second score was courtesy of his legs, as he scampered four yards for the score in the second quarter.
Outside of that, he was just doing his part to help the Panthers eat up clock and keep the ball out of Atlanta's hands. In a way, it's good that he didn't have to do much. He can hold on to his heroics for next week when the Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals in the Wild Card Round.
Grade: A-
Running Backs
2 of 10
Jonathan Stewart had an off night compared to his performances of late. He carried the ball 13 times for 49 yards. His yards per carry (3.8) weren't that bad, so his drop in production could be a byproduct of not getting as many touches as fans are accustomed to seeing.
This bodes well for the veteran back, as he was able to limit the wear and tear on his body prior to next week.
With the game well in hand early, Carolina gave Fozzy Whittaker a few opportunities. He had seven carries for 41 yards. It's obvious he's being groomed for a bigger role next season, and with uncertainty surrounding DeAngelo Williams' future, having a capable running back waiting in the wings is a plus for the Panthers.
Mike Tolbert is still an enigma. He had 12 yards on seven carries and just seems to struggle. It doesn't matter what the situation is, he is not moving the ball with authority like he has in the past. Fortunately, it was irrelevant in this game.
Grade: B-
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
3 of 10
The receivers and tight ends were mostly quiet Sunday, as the unit really didn't account for much of the offense. However, Ed Dickson had a big touchdown grab (his only reception on the day) in the first quarter. He would be the only receiver to score on a day where the Panthers put up 34 points.
Imagine that.
Top playmakers Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen were not much of a factor, though both did eclipse 1,000 receiving yards on the year. Olsen was targeted often and early, as he was Cam Newton's primary target during Carolina's opening drive. It's amazing those two catches would be his only ones on the day.
Benjamin had a couple of drops that could have proven big had he held on. While it may seem like small potatoes to criticize a couple of dropped passes when the receiver's team was on the winning side of a blowout, had this game turned out differently, those drops could have proven crucial. It's something the rookie will have to work on this upcoming week and in the offseason.
Philly Brown is steadily making a name for himself in this offense. He could be a second receiver before too long if he continues to play well. He had one catch for 28 yards, but it was his play as a running back that really set him apart. Brown had two runs for 41 yards. His contributions this season have been impressive, especially since he was an undrafted rookie out of college.
Grade: C+
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
The Carolina offensive line has made tremendous strides in recent weeks, but today it seemed a bit overwhelmed in the trenches. For the most part, the unit did a good job of keeping the Atlanta defense away from Cam Newton. However, it seemed to be pushed back a lot on running plays.
Credit Jonathan Stewart for finding open lanes after backtracking.
Byron Bell allowed Newton to get sacked, but it wasn't much better on the other side as Mike Remmers was outmatched by his man, which caused Newton to hurry a throw.
Hopefully, this isn't the start of something bad. The Falcons are not a team known for having much of a pass rush and, despite the pressure, Atlanta was able to get to Newton just once.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
Charles Johnson, Kawann Short, Star Lotulelei, Kony Ealy and Wes Horton all had sacks Sunday evening. The Carolina defensive front generated a consistent pass rush that kept Matt Ryan off-balance and unable to make anything happen offensively.
Lotulelei had a big day, leading Carolina defensive linemen in tackles with seven. After seeing him go down with an injury earlier in the year, it was nice to see him have such a big game.
The Panthers are proving they are the kind of team that does not need to rely on certain players to make something happen. As it stands, this unit is all about the next-man-up philosophy and is getting contributions up and down the depth chart.
This will be a pivotal element going into postseason play.
Grade: A+
Linebackers
6 of 10
Luke Kuechly may have continued to assert himself as a consistent playmaker with a team-leading eight tackles, but Sunday was all about Thomas Davis and his big fumble recovery, which set up Cam Newton's four-yard run for a score in the second quarter.
Adarius Glanton filled in again at outside linebacker for A.J. Klein and had five tackles and a forced fumble. All in all, another consistent day for the unknown who has seemingly come out of obscurity to play at the level expected of a Carolina linebacker.
These guys were the driving force behind the defense's dominant game and they played with a lot of tenacity.
Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 10
Roman Harper and Tre Boston.
One is a veteran safety at the tail end of his career. The other is a rookie who has a promising future in Carolina's defensive backfield. They both shared a common trend on Sunday, as they each picked off Matt Ryan and returned the interception for a touchdown.
Those 14 points told the story of just how dominant Carolina's defense was in Week 17 and provided legitimate reason as to why Ryan struggled throughout the game.
Josh Norman played another spectacular game against Julio Jones, as he limited the Pro Bowl receiver to four catches for 58 yards. He did go down with an injury during the game but was able to walk off on his own power.
The improvement of this secondary has been astounding and will be a key component if Carolina makes a deep playoff run.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
Not much needs to be said here. Carolina beat up Atlanta so convincingly, special teams were not needed. But Graham Gano did offer some reassurances about his ability to kick long field goals. He was perfect on both attempts, his longest coming from 48 yards.
Brad Nortman booted a long punt of 72 yards during the game and totaled 145 yards on three punts on the day. Atlanta found itself starting deep inside its territory on all three punts. The Falcons could not do anything with the field position given to them.
Grade: A
Coaching
9 of 10
Ron Rivera may have saved his job, though he was never really on the hot seat. He took this team from being among the league's worst and guided them to a division title. Additionally, he was able to accomplish something that none of his predecessors could: win back to back division crowns.
Based on how hot this team has become in December, Rivera and his team should not be taken lightly. This time around, the Panthers will have experience to fall back on entering postseason play, and it won't be limited to just the aging veterans.
Sean McDermott cannot receive enough praise for what he was able to to with his defense. This unit played lights out all game long and its best game all season.
Overall, this team looks ready to make some noise, and the Panthers are getting hot at the right time.
Grade: A+
Final Grade
10 of 10
Quarterback: A-
Running Backs: B-
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: C+
Offensive Line: B-
Defensive Line: A+
Linebackers: A
Secondary: A
Special Teams: A
Coaching: A+
Final Grade: A
Carolina did the impossible following a seven-game winless stretch. All hope seemed lost in November, and it was amazing to see the turnaround from the different units on this team. The Panthers will head home and prepare for the Arizona Cardinals but should be mindful to not take any team lightly.
As for the Panther faithful, celebrate this victory and embrace the title of division champion. Playoffs start next week!
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