Atlanta Falcons Suffer 'Same Sh*t, Different Year' vs. Carolina Panthers: 3 Takeaways

Despite never surrendering a touchdown, the Atlanta Falcons let the previously one-win Carolina Panthers pull the upset on Sunday.

"Same sh*t, different year," is what Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said last year coming off a loss that ended the team's playoff hopes.

Despite Jarrett not being on the field for the Falcons on Sunday as he is still recovering from his season-ending knee injury he is probably feeling a similar type of way following the Falcons' 9-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Slippery Slope

Nasty, slippery, and ugly are the three words that describe the conditions in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon and even the performance of both teams. The Falcons knew going into the game that the conditions wouldn't work in their favor, so they were undoubtedly prepared to play in the rain. 

However, even with the extra preparation, the performance was sloppy; the Falcons had three fumbles, two of which they luckily recovered, but the one they didn't, came via a one-yard run for Bijan Robinson cost them points. 

From there, it was a slippery slope for the Falcons as the Panthers trimmed the deficit to just three points before the costly late Desmond Ridder interception that led to the Panthers' game-winning field goal drive.

Dec 17, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) looks to pass in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium.  / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Inexcusable?

Heading into Sunday's game, the latest reports regarding the job security of Falcons coach Arthur Smith had stated that there wasn't anything to worry about in terms of him being let go. However, that was while the Falcons were in a three-way with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans for the NFC South, which, after the loss to the Panthers, has seen the latter two pull ahead, while Atlanta has fallen to third place.

Not only have the Falcons' playoff hopes taken a hit with the loss, but it was also how they suffered a defeat that may turn up the heat on Smith's seat. Only one touchdown was scored in Sunday's rather dull affair, and it came via a two-yard shovel pass from Ridder to Cordarrelle Patterson late in the second quarter. 

In stark contrast to how the Week 13 win over the New York Jets played out - a game in which the Falcons were also the only team to find the endzone - the Panthers managed to pull the upset with just three field goals. 

Falcons Suffer More Late-Game Heartbreak, Fall to Panthers as Offense Struggles

Second-Half Collapse

Despite their win coming off the bye week against the Saints, which felt like potentially a springboard for the rest of the season, the Falcons suffered an all too familiar fate versus the Panthers. 

After riding a 10-point fourth quarter to a win over the Saints and then finding a way to beat the Jets in another sloppy display, Sunday was a similar story to what had preceded the bye week.

The Falcons went into the locker room at halftime in control with a 7-3 lead, being the only team that had found the endzone, thanks to their defense keeping them in control. 

However, things would change in the final 30 minutes of play as the Falcons offense was held to just three second-half drives, two of which ended with turnovers while the other was a punt. Compared to having six in the first-half.  

As it had been in weeks past, turnovers proved to be the difference between the Falcons and Panthers, as Atlanta gave the ball away in each of its final two possessions, while Carolina scored off both.