ATLANTA (AP) - Matt Ryan had more rushing touchdowns than Cam Newton. Even more important, the Atlanta quarterback got a whole lot of players involved in the offense.
Just like that, the Falcons resembled the high-scoring team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
Ryan ran for a pair of scores for the first time in his career and threw a pair of TD passes, leading the Falcons to a 31-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates his touchdown with team mates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Cam Newton was rocked early on by cheap shot from Damontae Kazee , who was thrown out of the game for the helmet-to-helmet hit while the Panthers quarterback was sliding at the end of the run. Newton was able to stay in the game, throwing a pair of touchdown passes, and he had one last chance to send the game to overtime.
From the Falcons 31, Newton lofted a pass into the end zone for D.J. Moore, who was double-covered and let the ball slip through his hands as time expired.
While Newton rushed for 42 yards, it was Ryan who had the most significant impact with his legs.
After scoring on a 1-yard sneak that pushed Atlanta (1-1) to a 24-10 lead early in the third quarter, Ryan delivered the biggest blow with a brilliant scamper midway through the fourth quarter. On third-and-5 from the Carolina 8, he looked around futilely for an open receiver, spotted a running lane to the left and took off for the end zone.
There were three Carolina players waiting for him at the goal line - including 346-pound former teammate Dontari Poe - but Ryan leaped in the air and bowled them all over , falling across the goal line for the TD that gave Atlanta a two-touchdown lead over the Panthers (1-1).
Ryan finished 23 of 28 passing for 272 yards, a performance that took some of the heat off offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Roundly panned for his play-calling last season and in a season-opening loss to Philadelphia, he got a bunch of people involved in the game plan. Eight players caught passes, and six ran the ball.
That was more like the team that set a franchise scoring record in 2016 with Kyle Shanahan as the coordinator. He left after that season to become head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
The most telling possession for Atlanta came with the first half winding down. Ryan completed six straight passes to five receivers - none of them, amazingly enough, Julio Jones.
Tight end Austin Hooper had two catches for 15 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining that gave the Falcons a 17-10 halftime lead.
Backup receiver Marvin Hall had a 30-yard reception, while rookie Calvin Ridley hauled in a 22-yarder. The running backs also got into the passing game, with rookie Ito Smith making an 8-yard grab and Tevin Coleman pulling down a 6-yard reception.
The Panthers were livid about Kazee's hit on Newton, who was sliding to the turf at the end of a 10-yard run. Kazee came at him helmet-first, snapping back Newton's head with the vicious hit that got the Atlanta safety kicked out of the game.
Carolina receiver Torrey Smith raced in to deliver a hit that sent Kazee to the turf, also drawing a personal foul penalty but not an ejection.
While officials sorted out the penalties, Newton was quickly examined and returned to the field without missing a play.
INJURY REPORT
The injuries continued to pile up for both teams, which already were dealing with several missing starters.
The Falcons lost starting left guard Andy Levitre to an elbow injury, while backup defensive end Derrick Shelby left with a groin injury.
Carolina had a pair of starters in the secondary go down: strong safety Da'Norris Searcy (concussion) and cornerback Donte Jackson (hamstring).
UP NEXT
Panthers: Return home to host the Cincinnati Bengals.
Falcons: Play their second straight home game against an NFC South rival when the New Orleans Saints visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
___
Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry
___
For more AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NFLfootball and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) leaps for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Green-Thompson (54) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) leaps for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Green-Thompson (54) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 31-24. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore (12) runs against Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jordan Richards (29) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. Moore scored a touchdown on the play. The Atlanta Falcons won 31-24. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) his hit by Carolina Panthers linebacker David Mayo (55) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) leaps for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Green-Thompson (54) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) runs through Carolina Panthers players during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. Ryan scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Ricardo Allen (37) picks the ball off intended for Carolina Panthers running back C.J. Anderson (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates a touchdown by Carolina Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith during the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates his touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith (11) makes a touchdown catch against Atlanta Falcons defensive back Robert Alford (23) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) runs against Carolina Panthers cornerback James Bradberry (24) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Atlanta Falcons running back Ito Smith (25) runs past Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Green-Thompson (54) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Link textbacklinkexchanges.com
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/ryan-shines-with-arm-and-legs-falcons-beat-panthers-31-24/
News Pictures Ryan shines with arm and legs, Falcons beat Panthers 31-24
You don’t have to pack away your bikini just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!
TEENS
Hayden Panettiere
Size: 8
Age: 18
Height: 5ft 1in
Weight: 8st
To achieve her kick-ass figure, Hayden – who plays cheerleader Claire Bennet in Heroes – follows the ‘quartering’ rule. She eats only a quarter of the food on her plate, then waits 20 minutes before deciding whether she needs to eat again.
Hayden says: “I don’t have a model’s body, but I’m not one of those crazy girls who thinks that they’re fat. I’m OK with what I have.”
Nicollette says: “I don’t like diets – I see it, I eat it! I believe in eating healthily with lots of protein, vegetables and carbs to give you energy.”
kim cattrall
Size: 10-12
Age: 52
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 9st 4lb
SATC star Kim swears by gym sessions with Russian kettle bells (traditional cast-iron weights) and the South Beach Diet to give her the body she wants. To avoid overeating, Kim has a radical diet trick – squirting lemon juice on her leftovers – so she won’t carry on picking.
Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/09/16/21/wire-4323494-1537130452-707_634x412.jpg
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий