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Koo's OT FG gives Falcons improbable 37-34 win over Panthers
ATLANTA (AP) D.J. Moore hauled in a last-minute touchdown pass but ripped off his helmet, Carolina's Eddy Pineiro missed a pair of potential winning kicks, and the Atlanta Falcons escaped with a victory that was as improbable as their spot in the standings.
First place.
Younghoe Koo booted a 41-yard field goal in overtime after a silly penalty by Moore opened the door for the Falcons to pull off a 37-34 victory Sunday that maintained their hold on the NFC South lead.
''Our guys don't blink,'' said Marcus Mariota, who got a chance on his 29th birthday to make up for an interception that could've - should've, really - sent his team to a loss.
It will surely be the favorite gift he gets this year.
The teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 3:06 of regulation. But it looked like the Panthers would prevail in stunning fashion when Moore hauled in a 62-yard scoring heave from P.J. Walker with 12 seconds remaining, tying the game at 34 with only an extra point needed to win it.
But Moore yanked off his helmet during a raucous celebration in the end zone, resulting in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
''I've got to understand that there's still time on the clock,'' Moore said. ''It was a natural reaction, but you've still got to know you can't do that.''
Moore's blunder pushed back the PAT to a 48-yard attempt, and Pineiro pulled it left of the upright.
Carolina had another chance to win in OT after C.J. Henderson returned an interception 54 yards to the Falcons 20. But Pineiro botched another kick, yanking a wobbler left again from 32 yards out - shorter than a regular extra point.
''I just missed the kick,'' Pineiro said. ''I've got to make the kick. It hurts. You know, I love this team and I know they've got my back and I know it's not going to define me as a kicker. Everybody misses kicks. Unfortunately mine was today.''
Pineiro and the Panthers wouldn't get a third shot.
Mariota, who threw three touchdown passes, ripped off a 30-yard run for the Falcons (4-4) that set up Koo's game-winner with 1:55 left in the extra period.
''He's a resilient guy,'' Falcons coach Arthur Smith said when asked about Mariota's big run. ''That's why we believe in Marcus. There's not many guys who can make that play.''
Koo was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates. Moore - who finished with six catches for 152 yards - sat alone on the bench, staring in disbelief at a celebration that surely would've belonged to the Panthers (2-6) if he had merely kept his headgear buckled up.
''What would've happened if I didn't take my helmet off?'' Moore pondered to himself.
The Panthers had a chance to create a four-team logjam in the NFC South. Instead, the Falcons have the lead all to themselves with a .500 record.
Mariota was 20 of 28 for 253 yards with a pair of interceptions, his first coming on the second play of the game.
But he was awfully good between those picks, completing 12 straight passes at one point.
In the end, Mariota used his legs to burst from the pocket, veer toward the sideline and finish off the big run that would finally end the game.
The Panthers wasted a three-touchdown performance by D'Onta Foreman, a career best from a guy who filled in brilliantly for injured running back Chuba Hubbard.
Foreman, who had 118 yards on 26 carries, scored the last of his touchdowns on a 12-yard run with 3:06 to go, pushing the Panthers to a 31-28 lead.
Mariota and the Falcons needed less than a minute to go back in front. Damiere Byrd hauled in a pass around the 32, looped across the field and found a lane for a 47-yard TD with 2:14 on the clock.
The Panthers went out on downs, and the Falcons padded the lead on Koo's 36-yard field goal with 34 seconds remaining.
Enough time, it turned out, for the Panthers to score a touchdown. Moore ran right by Dean Marlowe, taking a more prominent role in the Falcons' injury-depleted secondary, and hauled in Walker's impressive heave for what appeared to be the winning score.
PANTHERS QBS
Walker got his third straight start for the Panthers, with former starter Baker Mayfield as his backup. He probably did enough to hang on to the job for another week.
Walker was 19 of 36 for a career-best 317 yards, with an interception under pressure that Lorenzo Carter returned for an Atlanta touchdown and that long scoring pass to Moore.
INJURY REPORT
Panthers: S Juston Burris went out with a concussion. ... CB Donte Jackson sustained an ankle injury late in the game.
Falcons: Already short-handed in the secondary, Atlanta got a scare when cornerback Cornell Armstrong wobbled off the field midway through the third quarter. But he missed only a couple of plays before returning.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Hit the road again next Sunday to face the Cincinnati Bengals.
Falcons: Host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.
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Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | 27:46 | 32:14 |
1st Downs | 23 | 21 |
Rushing | 10 | 7 |
Passing | 12 | 14 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 5-13 | 6-12 |
4th Down Conv | 1-2 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 478 | 406 |
Total Plays | 73 | 67 |
Avg Gain | 6.5 | 6.1 |
Net Yards Rushing | 169 | 167 |
Rush Attempts | 36 | 37 |
Avg Rush Yards | 4.7 | 4.5 |
Net Yards Passing | 309 | 239 |
Comp. - Att. | 19-36 | 20-28 |
Yards Per Pass | 8.4 | 8.0 |
Penalties - Yards | 9-74 | 7-64 |
Touchdowns | 4 | 4 |
Rushing TDs | 3 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 3 |
Other | 0 | 1 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 2 |
Punts - Avg | 3-47.0 | 4-52.5 |
Return Yards | 100 | 121 |
Punts - Returns | 4-46 | 1-19 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 4-74 |
Int. - Returns | 2-54 | 1-28 |
Red Zone Eff. | 3-5 -60% | 1-3 -33% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 2-2 -100% | 1-1 -100% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
P. Walker
11 QB
18 FPTS
|
P. Walker | 19/36 | 317 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Foreman
33 RB
31 FPTS
|
D. Foreman | 26 | 118 | 3 | 16 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Brown
41 RB
2 FPTS
|
S. Brown | 6 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Walker
11 QB
18 FPTS
|
P. Walker | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Moore
2 WR
27 FPTS
|
D. Moore | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Blackshear
20 RB
0 FPTS
|
R. Blackshear | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Moore
2 WR
27 FPTS
|
D. Moore | 11 | 6 | 152 | 1 | 62 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Marshall Jr.
88 WR
12 FPTS
|
T. Marshall Jr. | 9 | 4 | 87 | 0 | 39 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Sullivan
84 TE
4 FPTS
|
S. Sullivan | 2 | 1 | 33 | 0 | 33 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Shenault Jr.
15 WR
7 FPTS
|
L. Shenault Jr. | 6 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 13 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tremble
82 TE
3 FPTS
|
T. Tremble | 4 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Thomas
80 TE
1 FPTS
|
I. Thomas | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Foreman
33 RB
31 FPTS
|
D. Foreman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Smith
12 WR
0 FPTS
|
S. Smith | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Brown
41 RB
2 FPTS
|
S. Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
S. Green-Thompson
7 OLB
|
S. Green-Thompson | 8-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hartsfield
38 DB
|
M. Hartsfield | 6-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
X. Woods
25 SS
|
X. Woods | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brown
95 DT
|
D. Brown | 5-7 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
F. Luvu
49 OLB
|
F. Luvu | 4-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jackson
26 CB
|
D. Jackson | 3-1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Burns
53 DE
|
B. Burns | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Ioannidis
99 DT
|
M. Ioannidis | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Ricci
45 TE
|
G. Ricci | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Y. Gross-Matos
97 DE
|
Y. Gross-Matos | 2-4 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Barno
90 DE
|
A. Barno | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Burris
31 SAF
|
J. Burris | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Taylor
28 CB
|
K. Taylor | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Littleton
55 ILB
|
C. Littleton | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Wilson
57 MLB
|
D. Wilson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Franklin
42 SAF
|
S. Franklin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Horn
8 CB
|
J. Horn | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Chandler
34 SAF
|
S. Chandler | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Henderson
24 CB
|
C. Henderson | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
E. Pineiro
4 K
8 FPTS
|
E. Pineiro | 2/3 | 42 | 2/3 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Hekker
10 P
|
J. Hekker | 3 | 47.0 | 1 | 52 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
S. Smith 12 WR
0 FPTS
|
S. Smith | 4 | 11.5 | 22 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
M. Mariota
1 QB
28 FPTS
|
M. Mariota | 20/28 | 253 | 3 | 2 | 28 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Huntley
42 RB
9 FPTS
|
C. Huntley | 16 | 91 | 0 | 30 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Mariota
1 QB
28 FPTS
|
M. Mariota | 6 | 43 | 0 | 30 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Allgeier
25 RB
16 FPTS
|
T. Allgeier | 14 | 39 | 0 | 13 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Zaccheaus
17 WR
2 FPTS
|
O. Zaccheaus | 1 | -6 | 0 | -6 | 2 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
K. Pitts
8 TE
19 FPTS
|
K. Pitts | 9 | 5 | 80 | 1 | 33 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Byrd
14 WR
15 FPTS
|
D. Byrd | 6 | 3 | 67 | 1 | 47 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Allgeier
25 RB
16 FPTS
|
T. Allgeier | 3 | 3 | 46 | 1 | 25 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. London
5 WR
7 FPTS
|
D. London | 5 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 17 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
O. Zaccheaus
17 WR
2 FPTS
|
O. Zaccheaus | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hesse
46 TE
1 FPTS
|
P. Hesse | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||