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Mini Coupe Power Play Of The Week: Brent Grimes Time

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: Brent Grimes #20 of the Atlanta Falcons intercepts a pass intended for Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome on October 16, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: Brent Grimes #20 of the Atlanta Falcons intercepts a pass intended for Steve Smith #89 of the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome on October 16, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
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Sometimes a good book has two authors. Oftentimes, so does a great play.

With the Falcons up by four, the Panthers were marching down the field late in the second quarter. A score would put them up by 17-14, a crucial lead given how anemic the Falcons' offense was. Though we couldn't have known it yet, the Panthers would march down the field after the half and score. It was clear, given the team's well-publicized third quarter woes, that they needed to stop the Panthers.

Yet Cam Newton expertly guided his team to the Falcons' 10 yard line in just minutes, despite a sack by Sean Weatherspoon and a fumble recovery by Curtis Lofton that was overturned on review. It seemed a foregone conclusion that the Panthers would score...until something awesome happened.

That something was set in motion on first and ten, when Newton looked for Steve Smith in the end zone. William Moore got a hand on the ball, and the now fluttering pass made its way to Magnet Man, who leapt approximately a hojillion feet in the air to intercept it. Brent Grimes then made a risky decision to run out with the ball, taking it to the Atlanta 25 and killing the Panthers' chances of scoring. It was kind of amazing.

Again, without this play, you're looking at a potential 24-14 Panthers lead in the third quarter, which would have changed the dynamic of the game significantly. Through a little bit of luck and a lot of talent, C4 and Grimes made the play of the game.

Do you agree, or do you have another play in mind? There were a lot of great ones, after all.