Ugly loss to Panthers leaves Falcons in 6-game skid

Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart (28) runs past Atlanta Falcons players in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015.

Cam Newton (Quarterback): Newton had another ridiculous game.

The fifth-year quarterback completed 15 of 21 passes for 265 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the unbeaten Panthers clinched a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs in what Newton described as the team’s most complete game.

It’s hard to argue that. But they are. Pair that offense with a juggernaut defense and this team, which improved to 13-0 on Sunday, has to be the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Olsen’s stretch is the second-longest active streak among all tight ends behind the Cowboys’ Jason Witten at 200. But they were outgained 424 total yards to 230 on the game, and three second half turnovers killed any easy scoring chances.

Before the first quarter ended, Ginn caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Newton as the Panthers built a 21-0 lead. He finished with a career-high quarterback rating of 153.3, and the Panthers won their 17th straight regular-season game. However, to say that Newton hasn’t developed into a threat as a passer is definitely erroneous. “… We want to be considered finishers”.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan walks off the field after losing to the Carolina Panthers 38-0 … Drew Brees also threw for three touchdown passes last week.

“It was one of those things where if they wanted to get chippy, we didn’t want to go there”, Norman said.

Dan Quinn isn’t buying into the popular belief that close losses hurt more than runaway defeats. “Basically the message going back to the team is everything counts, look for smart, tough and finish”. “That’s what I expect from our club”. Golden Tate caught two touchdown passes for Detroit (4-9), which didn’t have much to show for extra days off to regroup from a game-ending desperation TD pass by the Packers on December 3.

The Eagles (6-7) stayed tied for first in the NFC East with the Washington Redskins, and are now a half-game ahead of the New York Giants, who play Miami on Monday night.

The Chiefs spilled onto the field to celebrate another big win in their playoff chase. Olsen was held out the rest of the game, but the Panthers don’t believe the injury is serious.

Newton, likewise, threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Ed Dickson in the last few seconds during the first half before he left the game at the end of the third quarter, with the score at 38-0 with Carolina on top.

“You can’t play scared”, Rivera said of the balance of resting players. Cornerback Bené Benwikere, who had been playing outside in the absence of Charles Tillman, fractured his lower leg left and is out for the season.

If that happens it would give them two weeks to play meaningless games and give Rivera a decision on whether to play starters and go for an undefeated season. After holding QB Matt Ryan to 108 yards in the first half, the Panthers sacked him three times in the second.

After the Falcons won the coin toss and elected to defer, the Panthers went to work establishing the ground attack. He capped the drive by leaping over the pile for his sixth TD rushing of the season. “The deep play (74-yard touchdown) to (Ted) Ginn”. The rout was on.