Falcons – Panthers final score predictions

Feeling real confidence in these Atlanta Falcons after the past six years is perhaps a dangerous thing to do, but after the past couple of weeks it’s difficult not to feel pretty good about the team’s direction. That’s especially true with a really injured, shaky opponent next on the docket.

Will that add up to a road win for the Falcons? Adnan Ikic and I weighed in with our predictions for today, and then we welcome yours.

Falcons 27 – Panthers 17

Look at this matchup from any angle and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an area where the Panthers outmatch the Falcons. They might be about the same against the run and a little better at forcing the occasional turnover, but in every other way you can think of, the Panthers are worse. What we all fear is the Falcons coming out flat, making loads of mistakes, or both.

I think a team that has shown some real signs of improvement and learning from their past mistakes, and now they get by far their most straightforward matchup of the season with the passing game humming, clear improvement attainable and a favorable matchup for the ground game, and a weak offense for this scuffling defense. I don’t think it’ll be lopsided and I doubt it will all be pretty, but the Falcons should win this one, and they should do so by two scores. -Dave Choate

Falcons 31 – Panthers 14

I get that this is a road divisional game, and that anything can happen when two NFC South teams clash. I understand the apprehension to fully trust the Falcons to not play down to their competition when they have made that not only a habit but even an identity over the past seven years, but this is the moment when this Atlanta team will prove to be different from past renditions who have let us down over the years.

The Panthers are maybe the worst team in football. They sit in a cluster of disappointing 1-4 teams and have by far the worst net point differential in the league, having lost by two scores or more in all four of their defeats. Atlanta is on a heater right now and coming off of an extra three days of rest. I expect the offense to continue where they left off from in Week 5 and for the defense to stifle Carolina for the most part. This should not even be close. –Adnan Ikic