ATLANTA (11-1) At CAROLINA (3-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
OPENING LINE – Falcons by 3 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Atlanta 7-4-1; Carolina 5-7
SERIES RECORD – Falcons lead series 23-12
AP PRO32 RANKING – Falcons No. 2 (tie); Panthers No. 27
LAST MEETING – Falcons beat Panthers 30-28, Sept. 30
LAST WEEK – Falcons beat Saints 23-13: Panthers lost to Chiefs 27-21
FALCONS OFFENSE – OVERALL (9), RUSH (28), PASS (4)
FALCONS DEFENSE – OVERALL (18), RUSH (20), PASS (15)
PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (18), RUSH (15), PASS (16)
PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (14), RUSH (21), PASS (8)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Falcons have clinched NFC South title. … Falcons coach Mike Smith has lost 22 games as a head coach to Ron Rivera’s 19. Big difference is Smith has won 54 and Rivera just nine. … In last meeting in Charlotte between teams, QB Matt Ryan threw for four TDs as Falcons erased 23-7 deficit and won. … Ryan has won seven of past eight starts against Carolina, including six straight. … In past four meetings, Ryan has completed 83 of 132 (62.9 pct.) for 1,088 yards with 10 TDs and one INT vs. Carolina for 110.9 rating. He has 100-plus QB rating in all four of those games. … RB Michael Turner is franchise leader with 58 total TDs. His only receiving touchdown came earlier this season against Carolina. … In his last game at Carolina, WR Julio Jones had touchdown catches of 75 and 17 yards. … Falcons WR Roddy White had eight catches for 169 yards (21.1 avg.) and two TDs earlier this year against Panthers. … DE John Abraham has 14 1/2 sacks in his past 15 games. … QB Cam Newton threw for 215 yards and two TDs in last meeting vs. Falcons and also ran for 86 yards. … Since Week 9, Panthers QB Cam Newton has 12 total TDs (nine passing, three rushing) and two turnovers. Newton has compiled 101.5 passer rating in those games, completing 83 of 143 passes. … RB DeAngelo Williams has scored in his past two meetings with Falcons. … CB Captain Munnerlyn tied for NFL lead with two INT returns for TDs. … DE Charles Johnson had 3 1/2 sacks in last meeting. He has five sacks in past three games against Falcons. … Panthers TE Greg Olsen needs 11 more catches this season to surpass his previous high of 60 established in 2009 with Chicago.
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