CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Thursday evening video games will not be all that standard amongst NFL gamers. For the Falcons and Panthers, this weeks NFC South matchup cant get right here quickly sufficient.



Its a very good probability for each to clean the style of monumental psychological errors out of their mouths and put Sundays losses behind them.

The Falcons (1-6) allowed a possible win to slide away when operating again Todd Gurley by chance scored a landing with 1:04 remaining and his group seeking to arrange for a brief, profitable subject purpose. That left the Lions sufficient time to drive 75 yards and rating a landing and kick the additional level to win 23-22.

Carolinas (3-4) miscue got here when Teddy Bridgewater took an 8-yard sack on third-and-11 on the Saints 39 together with his group trailing 27-24 with 2 minutes left. Going through a fourth-and-19, coach Matt Rhule despatched Joey Slye on the sector to strive an NFL-record 65-yard subject purpose try, which fell a pair toes brief. Rhule referred to as the error a deadly blow.

Enjoying on Thursday evening makes you get out of the funk that youre in after a tricky loss, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan stated. So, I feel getting again right into a recreation plan rapidly, speaking with coaches, beginning to make plans for Thursday evening sort of helps.”

Or, as Bridgewater stated, it offers his group an opportunity to flush the final recreation and transfer on.

It's important to flip the web page,” Bridgewater stated.

The Panthers beat the Falcons 23-16 lower than three weeks in the past in Atlanta, with Bridgewater throwing for 313 yards and two touchdowns, and operating again Mike Davis piling up 149 yards from scrimmage. The Falcons had an opportunity to tie the sport late, however cornerback Rasul Douglas intercepted Ryan in the long run zone. The loss dropped the Falcons to 0-5, and some hours later the group fired coach Dan Quinn and changed him with Raheem Morris.

Had been taking part in a group that most likely appears like they let one get away the final time they performed us, Bridgewater stated.

McCAFFREY’S STATUS

Rhule is hopeful that 2019 All-Professional operating again Christian McCaffrey will likely be cleared to play after lacking the final 5 video games with a excessive ankle sprain. I need to win right now, so Im hopeful that it's right now, Rhule stated of McCaffreys return. All I can say is, wont be a minute too early.

McCaffrey returned to follow on Tuesday after being designated to return from injured reserve. He didn’t play within the first recreation towards the Falcons, however had been off to a powerful begin this yr with 233 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns in his first two video games.

RYANS REBOUND

Ryan is 16-9 towards the Panthers with 39 landing passes with 17 interceptions, however he was held and not using a scoring go within the final assembly. It was Ryans second straight recreation and not using a TD go however his manufacturing has loved a pointy enhance following Julio Jones return from a hamstring harm. Ryan has 5 TD passes with no interceptions within the final two video games, together with 4 touchdowns in a win at Minnesota.

For the season, Ryan has 12 TDs and three interceptions. He threw just one TD go towards the Lions however accomplished 31 of 42 passes. It was his second straight recreation finishing greater than 70% of his makes an attempt.

TOUCHDOWN MAKER

Calvin Ridley continues to search out methods to achieve the tip zone. Ridley has six landing receptions, together with one in Sundays loss to Detroit that allowed him to go Andre Risons group file for many TD catches (22) in a gamers first three seasons. Ridley now has 23 with greater than half of the season remaining. His six TD catches are fourth most by seven video games in franchise historical past.

Jones, the seven-time Professional Bowl choice, had 20 TD catches by his first three seasons in Atlanta.

RUMOR MILL

There was hypothesis Ryan and Jones might be commerce targets if the struggling Falcons are prepared for a large roster rebuild after firing common supervisor Thomas Dimitroff and Quinn. Proprietor Arthur Clean and group president Wealthy McKay every stated they need to go away such main roster choices to a brand new GM and coach, making a trade-deadline deal involving a prime participant extraordinarily unlikely.

Ryan and Jones had been requested this week if they'd welcome trades. Every stated no.

I do know who I'm, Jones stated. I do know what Ive obtained going. I do know what I imply to this group.

Ryan, 35, repeated his want to full his profession with the Falcons.

I dont fear about that stuff, Ryan stated of the hypothesis. I dont give it some thought.”

WINNING THIRD DOWNS

Accidents have caught as much as the Panthers’ protection which has actually struggled getting off the sector on third downs, permitting opponents to transform 56.3% of the time. Final week the Saints transformed 12 of 14 third-down possibilities towards Carolina and managed the clock for a lot of the recreation. Give credit score to them, they got here on the market and received each third down, Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson stated. We simply need to do higher.