The Carolina Panthers extended their win streak to four games on Sunday afternoon despite a shaky performance from Cam Newton. The recently-hot quarterback did enough as the Panthers defense dominated a 34-10 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons vs. Panthers 2013 final score: Carolina continues playoff push with 34-10 win
Cam Newton’s quest for the playoffs remains alive with a big win over a divisional opponent.
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Newton entered Sunday’s game on a three-game streak of turnover-free play, completing 77 percent of his passes and leading the team to a 3-0 record. Against the Falcons he was far from perfect, throwing two interceptions and posting a 68.4 passer rating, but the support of his teammates allowed the offense to shine. Receivers made big catches when they counted, and an eight-yard touchdown run by Newton sealed the Panthers’ victory.
The Falcons simply didn’t have enough weapons to remain in a shootout, especially with Matt Ryan’s suspect decision-making. He threw three interceptions on Sunday, including a pick-six that helped seal the victory for Carolina. Injuries made the game difficult to overcome, but poor passing made it impossible, especially on a day where Atlanta could have remained in the game as they intercepted Newton twice and ran the ball successfully.
Injury report
Asante Samuel and Corey Peters both left Sunday's game for Atlanta, but were able to return.
Carolina took two hits on their offensive line with guards Chris Scott and Jeff Byers leaving due to injury.
Fantasy studs and duds
Cam Newton threw two interceptions, but still managed 271 all-purpose yards, and two touchdowns.
Tony Gonzalez played well in the Falcons loss, finishing with 81 yards and a touchdown.
Did they cover?
The Panthers were nine-point favorites, according to OddsShark. Their big win means they covered easily.
What’s next?
Nov. 10: Atlanta vs. Seattle
Nov. 10: Carolina vs. San Francisco
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