Time Machine: Falcons-Panthers History Lesson

The Falcons are aiming for their first sweep since 2011 with a NFC South Division title in the balance on Sunday in this “I-85 rivalry”. Smitty’s crew also swept the Panthers one other time in 2010. Atlanta went to Carolina and grinded out a 19-17 victory in Week 11 earlier this season. On October 31, 1999, Atlanta hosted Carolina looking for its first home victory of the year at the halfway point in the season. Turnover problems plagued the Birds the entire 1999 campaign but it would be a reversal of fortune that would tip the scales in this game. The Falcons spotted the Panthers an early 3-0 advantage but returner Tim Dwight put Atlanta in position for their first score on ensuing kickoff going 40-yards. After moving to the Panthers 35-yard line, QB Chris Chandler connected with Dwight for a 35-yard touchdown strike. It was a lead they would never relinquish. Atlanta added two more field goals by K Morten Andersen in the second quarter to extend the lead to 13-3.Carolina closed the gap to 13-6 before halftime with a two-minute drill that guided them to the Atlanta 33 before K John Kasay hit the uprights from 51 yards. Falcons DE Chuck Smith, who finished the game with three sacks, produced his first in a big way forcing Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein to fumble in the third quarter deep in Carolina territory and DT Shane Dronett recovered and advanced it 15 yards to the two-yard line. Two plays later, RB Ken Oxendine punched it in for his first ever NFL touchdown to push the Falcons advantage to 20-6. Before the Birds could celebrate too much though the kickoff was returned 100-yards for a score by the Panthers Michael Bates to narrow the lead to 20-13. Chandler engineered a nice 78-yard drive on the next series that culminated with a four-yard touchdown pass to Dwight off a play-action fake on the first play of the fourth quarter for a two-score lead. The Panthers continued to claw back and scored on a one-yard touchdown run by Beurlein with 3:07 to go, but couldn’t pull any closer and fell 27-20. For the game, the Falcons won the turnover battle 5-0 on the heels of three interceptions and two fumble recoveries off of Beurlein. If last week’s game was dubbed “The Brawl for it All” then surely this week’s winner-takes-all contest could be called the “Brawl for it All 2." Nothing else needs to be said. It’s time to strap it up and leave it all out on the field in the last game of the regular season for the Division crown and the right to host a postseason game next week.

Time Machine: Falcons-Panthers History Lesson

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