In honor of Don Meredith you can turn out the lights because the party’s over. At least for the Carolina Panthers it is as the Atlanta Falcons lead 31-3 and are only a quarter away from clinching home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. Michael Turner’s three-yard touchdown run capped a nine-play, 54-yard drive that took almost six minutes off the game clock.
The NFC South could still send three teams to the playoffs if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who lead 20-10 currently) hold off the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs would still need the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants to lose on the late games but the hope is still there.
Hope is not still there for the Panthers who’ve been demolished in this game that could easily be 49-3 if the Falcons had been able to convert on a few more chances they’ve been given by the Panthers.