The 12-0 Carolina Panthers clinched the NFC South in Week 13 with their win over the New Orleans Saints. The Falcons have lost five consecutive games after a hot 5-0 start to the season, and while the division is officially out of reach, Atlanta's playoff hopes are still on the line.
Falcons vs. Panthers 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Panthers have already clinched the NFC South, and they’re heavily favored to beat the Falcons on Sunday.
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
The Panthers are striving for a perfect 16-0 regular season. On the surface, it's difficult to imagine their home matchup with the Falcons will derail them. Carolina is heavily favored against Atlanta. Cam Newton's season has embedded his name in the MVP discussion despite the fact that he's missing wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who was placed on injured reserve before the start of the 2015 season.
The Falcons are currently on a very different trajectory. After a perfect 5-0 start under new head coach Dan Quinn, the Falcons have faltered, losing six of their last seven games and bringing their record to 6-6. Atlanta needs a win on Sunday to get back on track, and it won’t come easily.
The Panthers are coming off a hard-fought division win at home over New Orleans. The Saints took a first quarter 14-0 lead, but the Panthers fought back, and five passing touchdowns from Newton -- the second time he’s accomplished this feat in his last three games -- helped the Panthers pull off the 41-38 victory. Carolina’s 175 rushing yards certainly helped seal the win, also.
The Falcons faced a division rival last week as well, losing to the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, 23-19. Ill-timed turnovers have plagued Atlanta, and while they only turned the ball over once against the Bucs, the timing was catastrophic. Trailing by four with 1:39 remaining, Matt Ryan threw an interception directly to Lavonte David to seal the game for Tampa Bay.
Atlanta’s turnover woes make the opportunistic Panthers defense a problematic matchup for Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense. Carolina currently leads the league in interceptions with 19, four of which have been returned for touchdowns, and the Panthers are also tied for seventh in the league for forced fumbles with 15.
The Falcons have also struggled in the red zone, settling for field goals on two of three trips inside the 20 in Week 13. The Panthers' pass rush will also present a challenge for a Falcons line that allowed three sacks to the Bucs last week. Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman are always capable of making big plays, but the Panthers defense won't make it easy on them.
Offensively, Carolina’s run game in particular will present a challenge for Atlanta. The Falcons’ defense has been stout against the run in general, but missed tackles and defensive lapses have made it easier for teams to move the ball on the ground against them, and the Panthers are averaging 141.9 rushing yards per game. Atlanta’s defense has been opportunistic, with 14 interceptions and eight forced fumbles, and they could create some opportunities to shift the game in the Falcons’ favor on Sunday.
How to watch
When: 1 p.m. ET Sunday
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
TV: FOX
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch
Online: Watch NFL Live
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