Atlanta (2-6) lost the lead to the Cowboys, Bears and Lions in the fourth quarter, but a late interception by Teddy Bridgewater’s Blidi Wreh-Wilson takes the win over Carolina (3-5)
Last updated: 10/30/20 4:31 am
Atlanta Runs Back Todd Gurley intentionally scored a three yard touchdown run a week later after accidentally finding the end zone in a loss to the Lions
The Atlanta Falcons avoided another collapse in the fourth quarter when they clinched a decisive 25-17 win over NFC South Division rivals Carolina Panthers on Thursday night.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw 281 yards for a 13-yard touchdown run while Todd Gurley, criticized after losing to the Detroit Lions in the seventh week, purposely found the end zone in the fourth quarter.
- Hawk stats: Matt Ryan, 21/30, 281 yards, 1 INT
- Urgent leader: Todd Gurley, 18 porters, 46 yards, 1 TD
- Receiving leader: Julio Jones, seven catches, 137 yards
Gurley had accidentally scored a late TD against the Lions last week instead of being attacked just outside the goal line and running down the clock before a game-winning field goal attempt. Instead, Detroit drove down the field to score a goal in the final seconds.
It was the third time the Falcons had embarrassingly lost a fourth quarter lead this season, and there were possibly fears for a fourth when Younghoe Koo missed the extra point attempt and scored a point after Gurley’s touchdown run. Eight point game.
- Panthers stats: Teddy Bridgewater, 15/23, 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Urgent leader: Mike Davis, 13 porters, 66 yards
- Receiving leader: Robby Anderson, five catches, 48 yards
The Panthers took possession of their own five-yard line with three minutes to go and made their way to Atlanta until Carolina quarterback Teddy Bridgewater finished third and sixth on the Falcons’ 30-yard line from Blidi Wreh- Wilson was intercepted. The Falcons then ran outside the clock for the last minute to score a major road win.
Evaluation summary
| FIRST QUARTER | |
| Falcon 3-0 panthers | Younghoe Koo 20 yard field goal |
| Falcons 3-7 panthers | Curtis Samuel 12 yard TD run (extra point) |
| Falcon 6-7 panthers | Younghoe Koo 37 yard field goal |
| SECOND QUARTER | |
| Hawks 6-14 panthers | Teddy Bridgewater 29 yard TD pass to Curtis Samuel (extra point) |
| Falcon 13-14 panthers | Matt Ryan 13 Yard TD Run (Extra Point) |
| Falcon 16-14 panthers | Younghoe Koo 36 yard field goal |
| THIRD QUARTER | |
| Falcon 19-14 panthers | Younghoe Koo 29 yard field goal |
| Falcons 19-17 panthers | Joey Slye 39 yard field goal |
| FOURTH QUARTER | |
| Falcon 25-17 panthers | Todd Gurley Three Yard TD Run (Extra Failed) |
Bridgewater threw for 176 yards in play, with a touchdown and an interception, but had a spell on the sideline late in the third quarter with a neck injury after taking a heavy hit from Charles Harris, the defensive end of the Falcons – for the he was kicked out of the game. Bridgewater returned just under 10 minutes ahead of the fourth.
Receiver Curtis Samuel previously scored two touchdowns for Carolina, in which All Pro ran back without Christian McCaffrey for the sixth straight time, despite returning to training earlier this week after an ankle injury.
Samuel scored a 12-yard run in the first quarter and scored a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bridgewater on a flea in the second quarter when the Panthers took the lead 14-6 – Atlanta had to settle for field goals after impressive results give drives open.
Falcon’s kicker Younghoe was 4-4 on field attempts and connected from 20, 37, 36 and 29 yards, despite missing that extra point attempt in the fourth quarter which could have proven costly.
Instead, his kick, along with Ryan’s touchdown later in the second quarter and Gurley’s in the fourth, resulted in an Atlanta win as Carolina’s offensive stalled in the second half.
The Falcons’ receiver Julio Jones played another big game against the Panthers, scoring 137 yards with seven catches.
With the win, Atlanta (2-6) under interim coach Raheem Morris improves to 2-1, while Carolina (3-5) has followed a winning streak in three games with three losses in a row.
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