ATLANTA — Miles Sanders rushed for the game-winning 1-yard touchdown in overtime and the visiting Carolina Panthers beat the Falcons 44-38 in the season finale on Sunday, eliminating Atlanta from playoff contention.
Bryce Young completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more scores on the ground, as Carolina (5-12) scored a season-high 44 points.
Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Falcons (8-9), who needed a win paired with a Tampa Bay loss to New Orleans in order to win the division. Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two scores.
The Panthers won the first possession of overtime and never let it go, driving 70 yards to end the game with a touchdown and keep the ball out of Atlanta’s hands.
Trailing 24-17 at halftime, Carolina tied the game after Mike Jackson intercepted Penix’s pass, leading to Young’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Tremble with 10:43 left in the third quarter.
After Riley Patterson missed a 52-yard field goal, Carolina regained the lead with Young’s 9-yard touchdown pass to David Moore with 1:02 remaining in the third.
The Falcons matched the score with Penix’s 21-yard touchdown strike to London at the 9:50 mark of the final quarter, tying the game at 31.
Carolina then scored on its third straight drive, as Young’s 10-yard rushing touchdown stamped a nine-play, 70-yard drive with 4:01 left in the game.
Robinson’s second rushing score, this time a 4-yarder, tied the game at 38 with 46 seconds remaining.
The teams traded field goals on their opening drives. After the Falcons turned the ball over on downs at the Panthers’ 42-yard line, Carolina scored the game’s first touchdown on Young’s 2-yard scramble with 10:47 left in the second quarter.
Atlanta answered with a 70-yard drive that included London’s 24-yard reception and Robinson’s 15-yard rush, before Penix ran it from 5 yards out to knot the score at 10 with 5:27 left in the half.
Carolina then took a 17-10 lead on Young’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Sanders, but Robinson tied the game again with a 3-yard rushing score.
Following a Carolina punt, Penix led Atlanta on an 81-yard drive in 37 seconds, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown pass to London with three seconds left for a 24-17 halftime lead.
–Jack Batten, Field Level Media
