POWER RANKINGS: Perfect Panthers still on top; Cards 2nd

But in order to feel comfortable about resting players, especially with the Arizona Cardinals not looking like they’re slowing down any time soon, giving more and more players some rest is a luxury the Panther still can’t afford to fall back on. The Falcons must regroup against Jacksonville to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. “It’s the nature of the game we all signed up for”.

The Panthers have created something special, winning 17 consecutive regular-season games going back to last season.

There was plenty of blame to spread around.

“This week coming up is important”, Rivera said.

“From an offensive standpoint, when you score zero points, clearly we aren’t doing our job”, Ryan said. “When that doesn’t happen, yes, I have a lot of disappointment”.

The New York Jets won a third successive game for the first time in four years by beating Tennessee 30-8, thanks to three touchdown passes by Ryan Fitzpatrick. Drew Brees also threw for three touchdown passes last week. The Falcons gained just 54 yards on 16 carries. “But we really, really have a nice thing going right now”.

“I know what we’re capable of playing like and when we don’t, man it digs at you hard, ” Quinn said, adding he could not wait to work on improvements in Wednesday’s practice.

“That’s where I wanted to make sure to remind us this game is going to be out there”.

The Falcons apparently tuned out the first-year coach, because they continue to get into mindless skirmishes and defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman and defensive line coach Bryan Cox got into a shoving match on the sideline. “In that case the message was about poise, both sides, the offense as well”.

Pittsburgh head coach MIKE TOMLIN improved his regular-season record to 90-51 since joining the Steelers in 2007.

The Cox and Hageman incident triggered the discussion.

The Panthers defense held the Falcons scoreless for the first time in their 41 meetings against Atlanta.

Falcon quarterback Matt Ryan did complete 22-of-34 passes, but managed just 224 yards and threw his 14th interception of the season, which is the most of any passer in the NFC. He finished with a career-high quarterback rating of 153.3. Julio Jones had 88 yards on seven catches, but the Falcons had only one pass play of longer than 20 yards. The latest falsehood came from a tweet Sunday night that’s been retweeted more than 18,000 times at the time of this post. Is the defense accepting this as a challenge to prepare them for the playoffs? The makeshift interior line of castoffs from the Titans, Redskins and Rams is starting to fall apart.

Remember, too, that despite a run to the playoffs in 2014, the Panthers had to play without Newton for part of that run do to a vehicle accident that injured the 2015 MVP candidate. Alford had held Ginn and a flag was thrown but the pass was completed anyway and Ginn took flight. He reportedly stopped on the play because he thought Ginn had gone out of bounds. Olsen runs a simple curl route, and is able to make an easy 17-yard catch.

-Outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. recorded his third career sack in the third quarter.

Even if he’s not in the same category as Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers as a “pure” quarterback-we can have the whole “elite” debate during the off-season, I guess-give it up for Newton being in a class of his own when it comes to running with it and reaching the endzone. The Panthers scored two players later and the route was in session.

Three plays later, Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart scored on a short touchdown run to make it 14-0. On this play, the Panthers once again come out in a 3×1 formation with Devin Funchess as the backside receiver, and Greg Olsen, Jerrico Cotchery and Philly Brown as the trips receivers. He only has two scores in the past ten games.

Take a look at this news-ish item from Pro Football Talk, which introduces that ESPN stat as fuel for the anti-Newton fire. Justin Durant also had eight tackles, but five were assists.