PANTHERS BEAT FALCONS IN NFC SOUTH RIVALRY GAME

In a miserable season for both the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Jake Delhomme, they have to take the triumphs where they can get them.  On Sunday, the Panthers used a series of blunders by the Atlanta Falcons and the ‘controlled chaos’ of a no huddle offense to knock off their division rivals 28-19.  Delhomme threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. The win improved the Panthers to 4-5 on the season, while the Falcons slipped to 5-4.

NFL football betting devotees who backed the Panthers as +1 home underdogs cashed their tickets as Carolina covered for the third straight week.  The Panthers are now 4-5 against the NFL pointspread on the season, while the Falcons dropped to 6-3 against the number.  The 47 combined points went OVER the posted total of 43’.  The Falcons have gone OVER in four straight and seven of nine this season, while the Panthers have gone OVER in five of their nine contests.

After the game, Panthers’ receiver Steve Smith talked about the ‘no huddle’ offense:

"No huddle is controlled chaos. You've got defense running around and they don't know what they're doing. The no huddle is really easy and simple."

Delhomme also expressed his confidence with the no huddle offense:

"That is something that we practice a good bit. I'm extremely comfortable in that situation."

Carolina receiver Muhsin Muhammad says his team still has its eyes set on the playoffs:

"I think we were at a major crossroad in the season being 3-5. If you look at the playoff picture, we have as good a chance as anybody else with seven games left in the season."

The Panthers were helped by an uncharacteristically bad day for Falcons’ QB Matt Ryan, who threw two interceptions.  He already has 12 picks on the year, one more than he had all of last season.  He’s not concerned, however:

"I'm young. I've got a long way to go, a lot of improving to do and a lot of things to learn."

The Falcons now face a tough road game against the New York Giants next Sunday.  The game is currently off the board due to the injury status of Atlanta running back Michael Turner who is now listed as ‘doubtful’.  They’ll then return home for back-to-back home games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles.  The Panthers host the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, with Carolina a -3 home favorite and the total set at 43.  They’ll play at the Meadowlands against the New York Jets on November 29 before returning home the following week to face Tampa Bay.