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ATLANTA (5-3) At CAROLINA (3-5)
1 p.m. ET, Fox
OPENING LINE - Falcons by 2
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Atlanta 6-2; Carolina 3-5
SERIES RECORD - Atlanta leads 18-11
LAST MEETING - Falcons beat Panthers 28-20, Sept. 20, 2009
LAST WEEK - Falcons beat Redskins 31-7; Panthers lost to Saints 30-20
FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (16), RUSH (11), PASS (19)
FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (24), RUSH (24), PASS (27)
PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (21), RUSH (3), PASS (24)
PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (9), RUSH (23), PASS (6)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Game features two elite running backs, but teams' passing games are going in opposite directions. Atlanta's Michael Turner ranks seventh in NFL with 720 yards, including 166 and two TDs vs. Redskins. Carolina's DeAngelo Williams ranks fifth with 768 yards, including 149 and two scores vs. Saints. ... But Matt Ryan's 13 TD passes for Falcons dwarfs Jake Delhomme's five with an NFL-worst 13 INTs. ... Ryan threw career-high three TDs in first meeting, and Carolina's comeback bid ended with late Delhomme INT. ... Neither team has had consecutive winning seasons, dating to 1966 for Falcons and 1995 for Panthers. ... Turner has 222 yards and five TDs in last two meetings vs. Panthers, and has TD rushing in last seven games overall. ... Falcons WR Roddy White has four TDs of 20 or more yards, second in NFL. ... Atlanta has scored TD on opening drive in three straight games. ... Falcons DE John Abraham has just 3 1/2 sacks after franchise-best 16 last season. ... Falcons DT Jonathan Babineaux had 11 tackles, 2 1/2 sacks and three tackles for loss vs. Redskins. ... Panthers lost WLB Thomas Davis to season-ending knee injury last week. Landon Johnson is expected to replace him. ... Panthers WR Steve Smith is on pace for fewest catches (68) and yards receiving (956) in non-injury year since 2002. ... Williams is on pace to break franchise single-season rushing mark he set in 2008. ... Carolina's minus-9 turnover margin is second worst to Cleveland's minus-11. ... First of two games in five days for Panthers, who host Dolphins next Thursday.
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