Defense was the worrisome part of the Carolina Panthers heading into the season as they had lost the best players at each of the three levels to either retirement or free agency.
The offense, on the other hand, was supposed to be the only reason the Panthers would even have a chance to win games. With quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, three very solid receivers and an All-Pro running back in Christian McCaffrey, it was labeled as potentially as one of the best in the NFL.
But Sunday in Atlanta, the roles were flipped as it was the defense that bailed out a very lackluster, second-half Carolina offense to squeeze out a 23-16 win and put together a three-game winning streak.
It’s also the team’s first win in Atlanta since 2014, and, most importantly, moves the Panthers into a tie first place in the NFC South Division, though technically the Panthers are behind Tampa in the standings since the Buccaneers have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
“The first two weeks we were just trying to figure out who we were,” Carolina running back Mike Davis said. “Guys are buying in.”
The offense has been efficient this season, and the defense has had its issues, especially early. However, on this day, the offense put up monster numbers in the first half, and very little in the second half as it struggled to put any points on the board.
Bridgewater had 261 passing yards in the first half and just 52 in the second, while as a team, Carolina had a measly 125 yards of total offense, 76 of which came on the team’s final drive.
But as Carolina could only muster 3 points in the final two quarters, the Atlanta offense, which had been kept in check the first half, started to gain momentum. And with game on the line, it was the defense that managed to intercept Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the end zone, to help preserve the win.
“We knew what was on the line,” Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson said. “Atlanta is a tough team, regardless of their record.”
What Carolina did in the second half perfectly sums up this team over the last three weeks: Each of the three phases helps the others when things aren’t going well in one particular area.
When asked what one word best describes today’s victory, Rhule didn’t hesitate to answer, “Team,” he said.
That is the word that the team has taken to heart.
That’s why when four starters were out on defense for the Panthers (3-2) on that crucial fourth quarter possession by Atlanta (0-5), there really never seemed any doubt they would do what was needed to get the stop and win.
And they did.
“We’re playing for each other. We’re brothers,” Thompson said. “Our mentality is, what’s next?”
With the way this team is scrapping and finding different ways to win each week, the answer to that question could very well lie within their own hands.
“We’re certainly playing as a team,” Carolina cornerback Rasul Douglas said. “Every week Coach challenges us and we rise to the challenge.”
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