CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eddy Piñeiro converted a 23-yard field goal as time expired to give the Carolina Panthers their second win of the season in upset fashion over the playoff-hopeful Atlanta Falcons at a soaking wet Bank of America Stadium.
Piñeiro was the only Carolina (2-12) player to score in the 9-7 victory. Pouring rain coupled with inept offenses created few chances for scoring but Bryce Young and the Panthers took the game’s final possession 90 yards into field goal territory for Piñeiro to secure the win.
The final drive began at Carolina’s 5-yard line with over seven minutes remaining after Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder threw a disastrous interception when the Falcons were in scoring position up 7-6.
Young efficiently led the Panthers down the field with passes to Tommy Tremble, Jonathan Mingo, and DJ Chark. The passing game’s success and effective running from Chuba Hubbard put the Panthers at Atlanta’s 2-yard line with under two minutes left in the game.
The No. 1 overall pick finished the game 18 of 24 for 167 yards passing. Hubbard led the team on the ground with 87 yards rushing.
“This is definitely a team win. Defense did a great job. We all fed off each other,” Young said after the game.
The win is the first for interim head coach Chris Tabor, who lost his first two games in the position.
“I know we’re not where we want to be, I understand that. But based off that tape, you can’t question who they are,” Tabor said. “I was really proud they were able to break through.”
The Falcons (6-8), looking to keep their divisional title hopes alive with a win, were aggressive early on. Atlanta marched into Carolina territory on the game’s opening drive and went for it on 4th-and-3 on the opposing 34-yard line. The Panthers’ defense blasted Bijan Robinson on the attempt, giving the ball to the Carolina offense.
Chuba Hubbard turned the Panthers’ first offensive play into a 22-yard gain on the ground. The Panthers made it into Falcons territory but failed to score after failing on a fourth down attempt of their own.
A combined eight punts followed with the score still tied at zero. The Panthers failed to gain a first down during that time.
Atlanta finally put points up on the board late in the second quarter with a 2-yard Desmond Ridder pass to Cordarelle Patterson. The score was set up by a 56-yard completion from Ridder to Jonnu Smith.
Young guided the Panthers to the Atlanta 9-yard line on the ensuing drive but a sack on 3rd-and-goal forced Carolina to settle for a field goal, setting the score at 7-3 at halftime.
The second half began just as exciting as the first half. The Panthers reached the Falcons’ side of the field on the opening possession of the half. Tabor elected to keep his offense on the field for a 4th-and-7 which Adam Thielen at first appeared to convert on a pass from Young. However, Atlanta challenged the play and it was revealed Thielen came up just short, giving the ball to the Falcons.
A few drives later, the Falcons suffered the game’s first turnover when Robinson fumbled deep in Atlanta territory. The Panthers were only able to add a field goal, though, making the score 7-6.
Ridder drove Atlanta into scoring position on the next possession but made an ill-advised pass toward the goal line that was intercepted by Carolina’s Xavier Woods.
Young and the Panthers then used all seven remaining minutes on a 90-yard game-winning drive capped by Piñeiro’s third field goal to win in the deluge.
The loss drops the Falcons to third place in the NFC South as both the New Orleans Saints (7-7) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) won on Sunday.
The Panthers will look to keep the momentum up with a home game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Dec. 24.