The Carolina Panthers have won the NFC South and clinched a first-round bye in the playoffs courtesy of a 21-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons this evening.
The Falcons opened the scoring on their first drive of the match as Jason Snelling managed to hold on to the ball when he bounced into the endzone having collected Matt Ryan's nine-yard pass.
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Matt Bryant extended this lead in the second quarter, but the Falcons' hard work was undone shortly afterwards as Ryan threw an interception to Melvin White, who managed to keep his balance just long enough to return it eight yards for a touchdown.
The Panthers scored again with less than 30 seconds to go in the first half when Cam Newton picked out a wide-open Ted Ginn Jr with a three-yard pass into the endzone.
The Falcons regained their lead in the third quarter as Ryan threw an inch-perfect 39-yard pass over the shoulder of Roddy White, who collected it just as he was going into the endzone.
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However, the Panthers were back in front again later in the quarter when Newton took his time on the ball before firing a seven-yard pass to Greg Olsen at the front of the endzone.
The Falcons reduced the deficit to just one point in the fourth when Bryant kicked his second field goal of the match, but they could not find another score as the Panthers held out for a narrow victory.
Barney Corkhill
