Falcons lose costly review to Panthers

With four steps left to go for an undefeated regular season, the Panthers romped the Atlanta Falcons 38-0 in Bank of America Stadium on Sunday.

That seems like a long time ago. They’ve won tough games on the road and like I said before, they’ve done it in a number of impressive ways but the fact that they are favored by nine points over the Falcons raises a red flag for me. If you’re not already settled with your starter, then we’ve got options for this week and next. For sure, our backs are against the wall. “But for us to do anything about the future, it’s about what we do right now”.

Dating back to Week 17 of the 2014 season, the Panthers have outscored the Falcons 72-3.

Olsen leads the Panthers in virtually all receiving categories this year.

To start the season, the Falcons’ offense and defensive lines looked improved, Matt Ryan was efficient, Julio Jones was on fire, and Devonta Freeman was having the best season of any running back.

At the beginning of the season, many felt that the Carolina Panthers were going to make the NFC Playoffs, but an undefeated 12-0 start sounded unthinkable.

The Panthers challenged the ruling on the field and after a review, the ball was awarded to the Panthers because the officials said Olsen was down by contact. “We’re both NFC South, and I think that’s going to be a game to watch”. “They would just split me out wide and throw me a jump ball”. “So you can tell (Quinn’s) fingerprints are all over it”.

Critics who said the Panthers’ success was due to a soft schedule were silenced by mid-season wins against the Seahawks and Packers.

Newton has thrown five touchdowns in two of the last three games and undoubtedly will received plenty of MVP votes.

But neither Quinn nor anybody with the Panthers was putting too much stock in those Seattle-Carolina matchups. Newton takes his offensive contribution to the next level as he can do things no one else in this league can do. But the most pressing concern for the Panthers should be keeping Newton healthy after he took a couple of big hits against the Saints. Even when he started running again, guys were just jogging, “Oh, we’ll get him down.’ And Jameis was running for his life”. “They are really trying to implement a lot of that eight-man spacing with the single high (safety)”. Now, fans have their mouths watering for a rematch of what is widely considered one of the greatest Super Bowls of all time-and chances are good that they’ll get their wish.

I’ve been waiting each week to see when I’ll have to write that first “welp, we lost” piece, and it still hasn’t happened.

Julio Jones vs Josh Norman: Arguably the most exciting WR-CB matchup of the season, these two will be at it all day.

“Of course we’re a playoff team”, Jones said.

“There’s something about him, the way he looks at things, that’s the alter-ego that he has in terms of person vs. football player”. “I’m going to go out there and give all I’ve got regardless. Not everybody can be a (first-year Florida coach) Jim McElwain, right?”