Carolina Panthers defeat Atlanta Falcons thanks to late INT, game-winning field goal

Sunday was ugly and wet and windy and low-scoring — but for Panthers fans, it was refreshingly rare, too.

The Carolina Panthers (2-12) gutted out a 9-7 victory against the Atlanta Falcons (6-8) in front of a poncho-populated Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte. The Panthers didn’t lead until the clock was at zeroes, thanks to a 23-yard field goal from Eddy Pineiro that soared true on the game’s final play.

Safety Xavier Woods’ interception in the red zone with just under seven minutes left set up Carolina’s game-winning, 17-play, 90-yard drive.

The Panthers’ nine points was tied for the fewest points in a win in franchise history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young turned out a decent day. His stats: 18 of 24 for 167 yards and a passer rating of 93.6, including a 5-for-5 performance on the last drive. Chuba Hubbard led Carolina’s rushing attack with 22 carries for 87 yards. Adam Thielen led the team in receptions with four for 43 yards.

Here’s a look at the game’s biggest moments as they happened below.

Carolina Panthers score vs. Atlanta Falcons

Fourth quarter

0:00: Eddy Pineiro kick is good! A 90-yard drive for Carolina. The Panthers got all the way to the 1-yard-line thanks to a few clutch passes and a consistent ground game from Chuba Hubbard. The Panthers nearly scored, but Hubbard pulled up right before the goal line, and then the Panthers kneeled a handful of times to set up the game-winning field goal, calling a timeout with 0:01 left before trotting out Pineiro.

7:44: Xavier Woods! The veteran safety snags an interception at the 5-yard line on a Desmond Ridder throw intended for Cordarrelle Patterson, setting up what could be a game-winning drive for the Panthers. Still 7-6, Falcons lead.

13:32: One-point game now, after a 25-yard field goal is good. Carolina trails, 7-6. That punctuates a six-play, 17-yard drive after the fumble recovery.

15:00: The Panthers are deep in Atlanta territory to start the final quarter. Cornerback Troy Hill forced a fumble on a Bijan Robinson run, and pass rusher Brian Burns recovered the ball at the Falcons’ 24-yard line. The turnover set up the Panthers in scoring position, as Young was able to hit wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette an 8-yard gain on second-and-7. The Panthers ended the third quarter on the Atlanta 13-yard line.

Third quarter

11:53: The Panthers got good field position due to an out-of-bounds kickoff, starting at their own 40. After a 21-yard run from Chuba Hubbard, they later went for it on fourth down, but Adam Thielen was ruled a tad short on the Atlanta 30, and the play was upheld on review. No points. It was the second time a Panthers’ fourth-down play came up short. There was no scoring in the third quarter (nor in the first quarter, either).

HALF: Falcons 7, Panthers 3.

Second quarter

0:22: Eddy Pineiro nails a 34-yard field goal through the uprights after a promising drive ends on a Bryce Young sack. The score cuts the game to 7-3, Falcons still leading. That concludes a 12-play, 60-yard drive for the Panthers, who had only one first down for the entire half entering that drive but got four on that march. Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill kicks a squib kick to punctuate the half. Carolina gets the ball first to start the second half.

4:55: Points! Atlanta Falcons get on the board first, courtesy of a Cordarrelle Patterson (Rock Hill native) shovel-pass catch and 2-yard scamper for a score. The big play that put them in that position: a 56-yard toss to Jonnu Smith. Falcons lead, 7-0.

8:26: This has been a compelling game of punts! The Panthers’ Johnny Hekker has three punts to his name for 142 yards (47.3 average), two of which landed inside the 20. Not to be outdone, the Falcons’ Bradley Pinion has now punted four times for 168 yards (one inside the 20). The Panthers take over from their own 8-yard line.

First quarter

5:14: It’s been a predictably uneventful game thus far, what with the rain and wind and general lack of offensive explosiveness on both teams. The Falcons opened the game with a 41-yard drive that ended in a turnover on downs; the Panthers responded with a 31-yard drive that ended with a turnover on downs, too. Scoreless with just about 10 minutes gone in this one. The good news? Not many fans are in attendance for this one.

Weather forecast for Falcons-Panthers

The weather forecast from 10 a.m. to game time at 1 p.m. is 47-49 degrees with 97-100% chance of precipitation, according to Weather.com. Winds are expected to range from 11 to 13 mph from the north northeast during that time.

From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the climate is expected to range 49-50 degrees, with 100% chance of precipitation. Winds are expected to range 13 to 16 mph from the north northeast.

At game time, tickets on Ticketmaster were going for $5 apiece for upper deck seats.

Here’s a look at the radar leading up to game time from Charlotte meteorologist Brad Panovich:

Check back for more updates on this weather report.

Inactives for Panthers-Falcons game

The Panthers only have four receivers active for today’s game and aren’t stocked at tight end, either. The Panthers will only have Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, DJ Chark, Tommy Tremble and Stephen Sullivan as pass-catchers.

Panthers inactives: CB D’Shawn Jamison, OLB Eku Leota, OT David Sharpe, TE Ian Thomas, WR Mike Strachan, WR Terrace Marshall Jr.

Falcons inactives: OLB Bud Dupree, OL Chris Lindstrom, QB Logan Woodside (emergency third QB), WR Mack Hollins, OL Kaleb McGary, TE John FitzPatrick, DL David Onyemata

Final score predictions for Panthers-Falcons

The Carolina Panthers will play on their home turf for the first time since Week 11 this weekend. Can they deliver a win?

A victory would require the Panthers (1-12) to overcome their status as three-point underdogs against their NFC South rivals in the Atlanta Falcons (6-7). The Week 15 matchup will take place in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Here’s a look at what NFL experts across the country — as well as at The Charlotte Observer — think will happen.

Observer columnist Scott Fowler has all but wrapped up this season’s Predictor Championship. He leads the way with an 11-2 record. Langston Wertz Jr. comes in next at 9-4. Alex Zietlow, who was uncharacteristically optimistic last week, sits at 8-5, and Mike Kaye sits at 7-6.

Mike Kaye: Falcons 17, Panthers 13. The Falcons are mediocre. The Panthers are worse. The NFC South is a joke. Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you spend it.

Scott Fowler: Falcons 23, Panthers 16. Of the four Observer predictors, I’ll be the most optimistic in one sense this week: I’m predicting the Panthers to score more points than everyone else. Let’s go with a sweet 16 points after Carolina only got to six a week ago. This week at least the “empty seats” category may lead Bank of America Stadium in attendance. Next week it’s going to be Cheesehead Eve around here, with Green Bay coming to town Dec. 24.

Langston Wertz Jr.: Falcons 24, Panthers 14. The Falcons, Bucs, and Saints are all 6-7 and tied for first place in the NFC South, so Atlanta has a lot to play for. Coming off a 29-25 loss to Tampa Bay last week, the Falcons also cannot afford another loss, particularly to a team that’s riding a six-game losing streak. And did you know that in those six games, David Tepper’s team is averaging 11.6 points? Look for the Falcons to lean on the run, keep it simple, and grind out an ugly win. Also look for lots of empty seats in Bank of America Stadium.

Alex Zietlow: Falcons 20, Panthers 10. My prediction that last week’s contest would be “replete with points and turnovers and refreshing avant-garde-ism” didn’t come true. To say the least. I predicted the Panthers would beat the Saints by a touchdown; they didn’t score a touchdown. I know this space is supposed to be devoted to dissecting Sunday’s particular matchup, but at this point, it’s no use: I predict a stout Panthers defense will be let down by a troubled Panthers offense (again), and that the Falcons will get their bi-annual boost in the NFC South standings. No Desmond Ridder struggles or Panthers rushing triumphs will change that. (But hey, at least the Panthers will wear their black-and-blue helmets Sunday. Those are legitimately awesome.)

Other NFL experts had to say

ESPN: Only one expert on the Worldwide Leader in Sports’ 10-person NFL panel took the Panthers to win this game. Seth Wickersham is an optimistic fellow.

The Ringer: Sheil Kapadia took the Falcons, correctly citing that “this Panthers team looks like it’s just counting down the days until the season’s over.”

CBS: Pete Prisco has Atlanta bouncing back after a difficult loss to Tampa Bay in Week 14.