The Atlanta Falcons find themselves in a situation that is both familiar and unfamiliar. They are going to play the Carolina Panthers in the penultimate game of the season, same as they did a season ago, but the stakes are much different. The Falcons enjoyed handing the then 14-0 Panthers their first loss of the season in that game, though they themselves were not playoff-bound.
Falcons vs. Panthers live stream: Start time, TV schedule, and how to watch NFL Week 16 online
Matt Ryan is playing some of the best football of his career, and the NFC South is his and the Falcons’ for the taking.
This time around, they take on the Panthers while holding on to first place in the NFC South, and it’s the Panthers who are on the outside looking in, and trying to finish above last place in the division. The two teams will play in Charlotte on Saturday, in a game kicking off at 1 p.m. ET on Fox. A live stream will be available online via Fox Sports GO.
Atlanta is 9-5 and battling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the top spot in the NFC South. It’s a cruel end of the season for the Buccaneers, given that both teams were set to face the Panthers and New Orleans Saints in their final three games, but the third opponent between the two was much different. The Buccaneers had to play, and lost to, the Dallas Cowboys, one of the best teams in the league.
The Falcons only had to beat the San Francisco 49ers, a terrible team whom the Falcons completely dominated in Week 15. Atlanta put up 41 points on the 49ers, and have won their last two games. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, as they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles recently.
But it’s an easy finish to the season, at least on paper. They have the Panthers on Christmas Eve, and then the regular season finale against the Saints. Atlanta beat the Saints, 45-32, and the Panthers, 48-33, in back-to-back weeks earlier in the season.
Matt Ryan has been ridiculous for the Falcons, completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 4,336 yards, 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Falcons have allowed him to be sacked 32 times, but he hasn’t let it phase him. He’s arguably the top quarterback in the NFC this season.
His running game is primarily composed of Devonta Freeman, who has 930 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, and a per-carry average of 4.6 yards. Freeman also has 346 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air.
The Panthers are not doing so well this season. They have won their past two games, which is good, but they lost their two prior to that and had a 1-5 stretch to start their season, so no amount of late-season heroics can get them into the postseason.
Linebacker Luke Kuechly is the player to watch for the Panthers. After his second severe concussion in as many years, Kuechly has missed some time. He was technically cleared by the league’s concussion protocol, but the Panthers made the decision to sit him against Washington in Week 15. It seems risky to play him in a game against the Falcons that doesn’t matter, but anything can happen.
Cam Newton has followed up an MVP-caliber season with a 53.8 completion percentage, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. His regression has been significant and it’s a big reason the Panthers have struggled this season.
Below is all you need to watch Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Falcons vs. Panthers on Saturday
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
TV: Fox
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager
Online Streaming: Sunday Ticket, Fox Sports GO
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