It was clear the Falcons weren’t going to win an elegant, effortless game against Carolina. They haven’t done so most of their year because of long-standing struggles, miscues and talent issues, and the Panthers are destined to play ugly games owing to their shaky passing attack and tough defense. It should not have surprised you that it came down to late in the fourth quarter.
Who cares, though? The Falcons won with a solid effort, and they did so behind a defense that delivered several big plays, an offense that once again ran the ball effectively, and an overall effort that may not have been memorable but was more effective than many we’ve seen this year.