Closing spread
ATL -3
Total
48
Model margin
+0.9est.
CAR perspective
Push chance
7.2%est.
the line sits on a key number
Availability
The injury report
The official league filing for this week — game designations first, then who missed or was limited in practice.
Falcons
- OutBrent GrimesCBKnee· DNP
- DoubtfulKelvin HaydenCBToe· DNP
- DoubtfulStephen NicholasLBQuadricep· DNP
- QuestionableWill SvitekTGroin· Limited
- ProbableHarry DouglasWRGroin· Limited
- ProbableMichael TurnerRBGroin· Limited
- ProbableChristopher OwensCBHand· Full
- ProbableJoe HawleyCAnkle· Full
- ProbableJohn AbrahamDENot Injury Related· Full
- ProbableJulio JonesWRHamstring· Full
- ProbableRay EdwardsDEShoulder· Full
- ProbableRoddy WhiteWRShoulder· Full
- ProbableSam BakerTBack· Full
- ProbableTodd McClureCNot Injury Related· Full
- ProbableTony GonzalezTENot Injury Related· Full
- ProbableVance WalkerDTGroin· Full
Panthers
- OutJason PhillipsLBCalf· Out (Definitely Will Not Play)
- OutKion WilsonLBCalf· Out (Definitely Will Not Play)
- QuestionableJordan GrossTAnkle· DNP
- ProbableCharles GodfreySShoulder· Full
- ProbableChris GambleCBNot Injury Related· Full
- ProbableGreg OlsenTEKnee· Full
- ProbableJeremy ShockeyTENot Injury Related· Full
- ProbableKealoha PilaresWRThigh· Full
- ProbableSteve SmithWRNot Injury Related· Full
- ProbableTravelle WhartonGBack· Full
Win probability
- Panthers
- Falcons
How each play moved the game.
Matchup
Where the edges are
Season-long league percentiles for both sides, mirrored. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge.
- +0.046EPA / play+0.102
- 43.6%Success rate44.8%
- +0.130EPA / dropback+0.093
- -0.087EPA / rush+0.115
- 9.6%Explosive rate12.3%
- +1.80CPOE-0.04
- 45.0%Third-down rate38.7%
- 57.5%Red-zone TD rate64.4%
- 1.86Points / drive2.08
- 1.8%Turnover rate2.2%
Bar length is league percentile, already oriented so longer is better. The saturated side of a lopsided row holds the edge; rows within ~12 points are washed as even.
The rivalry
ATL lead 33–22 since 1999
CAR have won 4 straight. Meetings average 42.6 points. CAR are 25-29-1 ATS in the series.
Possession by possession
How it unfolded
Every drive: who had the ball, how far it went, how it ended, and the score as it settled.
| Ball | Start | Plays | Yards | Result | ATL–CAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | Q1 15:00 | 4 | 13 | Punt | 0–0 |
| CAR | Q1 12:23 | 3 | -7 | Punt | 0–0 |
| ATL | Q1 10:55 | 10 | 62 | Touchdown | 7–0 |
| CAR | Q1 5:29 | 9 | 74 | Touchdown | 7–7 |
| ATL | Q1 0:03 | 6 | 18 | Punt | 7–7 |
| CAR | Q2 12:23 | 7 | 35 | Punt | 7–7 |
| ATL | Q2 8:46 | 3 | -4 | Safety | 7–9 |
| CAR | Q2 7:12 | 2 | 74 | Touchdown | 7–16 |
| ATL | Q2 6:51 | 3 | -1 | Punt | 7–16 |
| CAR | Q2 5:02 | 4 | 60 | Touchdown | 7–23 |
| ATL | Q2 3:03 | 6 | 20 | Punt | 7–23 |
| CAR | Q2 1:30 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 7–23 |
| ATL | Q2 0:47 | 3 | 9 | Punt | 7–23 |
| CAR | Q2 0:11 | 1 | 1 | End of half | 7–23 |
| CAR | Q3 15:00 | 3 | 7 | Punt | 7–23 |
| ATL | Q3 13:50 | 9 | 45 | Field goal | 10–23 |
| CAR | Q3 10:55 | 3 | 18 | Turnover | 10–23 |
| ATL | Q3 9:27 | 2 | 35 | Touchdown | 17–23 |
| CAR | Q3 8:55 | 7 | 28 | Turnover | 17–23 |
| ATL | Q3 4:46 | 3 | -4 | Missed field goal | 17–23 |
| CAR | Q3 3:58 | 4 | 9 | Punt | 17–23 |
| ATL | Q3 2:06 | 10 | 90 | Touchdown | 24–23 |
| CAR | Q4 12:42 | 3 | 7 | Punt | 24–23 |
| ATL | Q4 10:41 | 3 | 8 | Punt | 24–23 |
| CAR | Q4 9:18 | 10 | 54 | Missed field goal | 24–23 |
| ATL | Q4 5:12 | 2 | 74 | Touchdown | 31–23 |
| CAR | Q4 4:17 | 7 | 48 | Turnover on downs | 31–23 |
| ATL | Q4 3:31 | 5 | 31 | End of half | 31–23 |
Box score
Individual performances
Falcons
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Ryan | 22/38 | 320 | 4 | 0 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Turner | 21 | 76 | 3.6 | 0 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 0 |
| Matt Ryan | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Jones | 3 | 8 | 104 | 2 |
| Roddy White | 7 | 11 | 84 | 1 |
| Tony Gonzalez | 7 | 11 | 82 | 0 |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | 2 | 2 | 39 | 1 |
| Harry Douglas | 2 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| Michael Turner | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Palmer | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Panthers
Passing
| Player | C/Att | Yds | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Newton | 19/39 | 276 | 2 | 2 |
Rushing
| Player | Car | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeAngelo Williams | 7 | 87 | 12.4 | 1 |
| Cam Newton | 7 | 36 | 5.1 | 0 |
| Jonathan Stewart | 8 | 29 | 3.6 | 0 |
| Armanti Edwards | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Rec | Tgt | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | 6 | 8 | 125 | 0 |
| Greg Olsen | 2 | 6 | 53 | 1 |
| Legedu Naanee | 2 | 5 | 29 | 0 |
| Brandon LaFell | 2 | 5 | 28 | 0 |
| Jonathan Stewart | 4 | 9 | 27 | 0 |
| Jeremy Shockey | 2 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| DeAngelo Williams | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
Where this game is likely to land
- Model
- Smooth (normal)
- Betting line
Probability of each final margin. Football scoring clusters — the spikes at 3 and 7 are real, and a smooth model misses them.
Positive margins favour Panthers; negative favour Falcons.
Half-point at risk
7.24%
outcomes that flip if the line moves 0.5
Model home win
51.5%
Expected total
46.6est.
Model
Where the number comes from
Each component is additive, in points of expected margin.
- Team ratings (opponent-adjusted EPA)-1.57
- Home-field advantage+2.49
- Quarterback adjustment0.00
- Rest differential0.00
- Expected margin+0.92



