Opponent: Carolina Panthers
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Time: 1 p.m.
Point Spread (Danny Sheridan's odds as published in USA Today): Atlanta is favored by 7 with an over of 48
Key Offensive Match-up: Following the Panthers' 36-7 loss to the New York Giants last Thursday, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera singled out rookie cornerback Josh Norman for what he thought was subpar play. The Falcons possess one of the NFL's top receiving tandems in Julio Jones and Roddy White, which could be a bad sign for the Panthers if Norman does not pick up his play. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan has the NFL's top passer rating at 114.0 entering Sunday and is mature enough to know how to find the weak spot in a defense. Jones suffered a lacerated hand last week at San Dieog, but returned to the game and caught some balls. If he is healthy and effective, the Falcons could have an easily winnable matchup there.
Key Defensive Match-up: The Panthers' Cam Newton might be the hardest quarterback to defend in the NFL from a run standpoint. He's big and when the Panthers call designed runs for Newton, they have the advantage of the extra blocker that handoffs lack. Newton ought to be motivated, as Panthers veteran receiver Steve Smith called him out for sulking during the loss to the Giants, an item that became public. Newton also is an Atlanta native. For their part, the Falcons have not defended the run very well, as they rank 24th in the NFL in that category. They have relied on takeaways to stop the opposition, as they rank tops in the NFL at plus-10 in turnover different. The Falcons' top defensive tackle, Jonathan Babineaux, landed on the injury report with a groin injury. The Falcons will need an effective Babineaux to blunt the Panthers and their running attack.
Inactives: For the Falcons: quarterback Dominique Davis, cornerback Christopher Owens, running back Antone Smith, fullback Lousaka Polite, offensive tackle Lamar Holmes, defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, tight end Michael Palmer. For the Panthers: quarterback Jimmy Clausen, wide receiver Joe Adams, safety D.J. Campbell, tackle Bruce Campbell, guard Mike Pollak, defensive end Antwan Applewhite, defensive tackle Frank Kearse.
