The Atlanta Falcons won their seventh straight game and improved to 11-2 with a 31-10 win against the Carolina Panthers. Michael Turner led the way with three rushing touchdowns and 112 yards on 28 carries. The Falcons also got some good news when the Green Bay Packers (without an injured Aaron Rodgers) lost to the Detroit Lions. The Falcons can now clinch a playoff berth if the New York Giants lose to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.
This was the type of performance sorely needed from a Falcons team that had won 70 percent of their games this season by one score or less. The Panthers are a bad football team and the Falcons did what they should have done; beat them by a lot.
The defense for the Falcons was a bit of an enigma as they allowed the second-fewest passing yards since 2008 but they allowed the most rushing yards in that same span. Up next is an interesting game in Seattle against the Seahawks. With the New Orleans Saints on the horizon, the Falcons should be careful in the Pacific Northwest.