Falcons prime Panthers for third straight NFC South victory

Bijan Robinson ran for two touchdowns, Tyler Allgeier gained 105 yards on the ground and the Atlanta Falcons fended off the Carolina Panthers to win 38-20 on Sunday in Charlotte, N.C.

Kirk Cousins threw for 225 yards and a touchdown without an interception as the Falcons (4-2) won their third game in a row — all against NFC South rivals. Allgeier, who posted a touchdown and a two-point conversion run, had 18 carries and Robinson picked up 95 rushing yards on 15 attempts.

Andy Dalton threw for 221 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as the Panthers (1-5) remained winless in three home games. Chuba Hubbard rushed for 92 yards.

The Panthers, who dropped their third game in a row, were down 28-20 and driving before A.J. Terrell intercepted Dalton. The Falcons converted nine plays later at the other end on Allgeier’s 2-yard run with 5:38 to play.

The Falcons scored on six consecutive possessions — not counting kneeling to end the first half — to keep Carolina off balance. Atlanta has won both its road games.

Atlanta took the lead for good on Robinson’s 7-yard run with 6:03 to play in the first half, when Allgeier added the two-point conversion.

The Falcons struck again when Cousins connected with Drake London on a 3-yard touchdown pass 1:42 before halftime, needing to cover only 27 yards on that drive after Clark Phillips III’s punt return combined with a Panthers penalty. Phillips later intercepted a pass.

The Panthers cut the gap to 22-17 when Dalton’s 7-yard pass to rookie Xavier Legette went for a touchdown seven seconds before halftime.

The Falcons maintained the lead with 11-play and 10-play drives in the third quarter resulting in Younghoe Koo field goals from 21 and 31 yards. Koo added a 35-yarder for the game’s final points.

The Panthers scored first on Dalton’s 10-yard pass to Diontae Johnson to cap a 12-play drive that went 67 yards.

Carolina’s Eddy Pineiro booted field goals from 24 and 40 yards.

–Field Level Media