The Carolina Panthers had four defensive starters go down with injuries during their 23-16 win over Atlanta, giving the Falcons every opportunity to make a second-half comeback.
Even so, the Panthers defense continued to stick together and when Atlanta trailed 20-13 with a chance to tie it in the fourth quarter, safety Juston Burris made the play of the game by intercepting Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the end zone to give Carolina the ball back and help secure the win.
It’s the third-straight win for the Panthers.
"They had turned the tide of the game in terms of we were wearing down and they were moving the ball," Carolina head coach Matt Rhule said. "They didn't panic that they were down two scores. Offensively, we went three-and-out twice and that (interception) was a huge, huge, huge play for us."
Starting cornerback Donte Jackson left the game early with a toe injury and never returned, while defensive end Brian Burns sustained a concussion. Defensive tackle Kawann Short injured his shoulder and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos hurt his ankle. None of them returned and more information will be given Monday on their status.
"Burns goes down, Yetur goes down, D-Jack goes down, and everyone steps up," Rhule said. "I thought it was a total team win and that's what we're looking for. A team. A team. A team."
Burris' interception came after he failed to scoop up a fumble that Burns caused in the second quarter, which would have likely led to a defensive touchdown.
Instead of letting that play affect the defense, they continued to rally around each other.
"It's a testament to my teammates just coming up to me and saying I would make up for that with another play," Burris said. "I think probably every person on that defense came up to me and said I would make a play. That just gave me confidence to go out there and keep playing and not rushing or overstepping, and just letting every play come to me."
Nobody expected the Panthers to be 3-2 through five games, and after suffering key injuries on defense and still pulling out the win, it just showed another demonstration of what type of team they are.
"We're playing for each other and not just with each other," linebacker Shaq Thompson said. "We're playing for each other. We're brothers and we know if one guy goes down, the next person needs to step up. Our mentality is what's next?"
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