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The Falcons are now 1-6. Their latest last second loss was against the Lions on Sunday, and they now have to get it together in time to play a Panthers team they already lost to this year in primetime on the road. It’s fair to say I’m not going into this one with high expectations.
Atlanta’s response to adversity on the road in a short week will tell us a little bit about what we should expect the rest of the way. They trounced Minnesota but floundered against Detroit, putting up just 22 points at home against a solid but unspectacular team that beat them in the final seconds. If they fall flat again against Carolina, we can go ahead and expect that we’ll be watching to find out just how high the team’s draft pick will be in April 2021, if you’re not already completely in that mindset. If they bounce back and win impressively against the Panthers, chances are good we’ll be on the roller coaster the rest of the way, with some surprising wins mixed in with very Falconly losses.
Either way, it’s obvious that the short burst of magic the team showed against Minnesota is not going to carry them into the expanded postseason, not with every team in the division multiple games ahead of them and not with Atlanta failing to nail even the most tantalizing opportunities against Detroit. We’ll just see what happens Thursday night and go from there.
Here’s what you need to know to do just that.
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers, Week 8
When: Thursday, October 29, 8:20 p.m. EST
Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Channel: FOX
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews
Streaming: FOXSportsGo
Radio: 92.9 The Game
Key Questions: There’s just one: Has this team learned anything since their last loss against Carolina, or is this the same team minus one inspiring win against Minnesota?
Prediction: After an all-too-familiar loss against the Lions in the final seconds of their Week 7 game, I’m back to smartly betting against the Falcons. Atlanta 24 - Carolina 27
SB Nation Opposition Site: Cat Scratch Reader
2020 Falcons Schedule (1-6)
Week 1: Loss vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 2: Loss at Dallas Cowboys
Week 3: Loss vs. Chicago Bears
Week 4: Loss at Green Bay Packers
Week 5: Loss vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 6: Win at Minnesota Vikings
Week 7: Loss vs. Detroit Lions
Week 8: at Carolina Panthers — Thursday Night Football, October 29, 8:25 p.m.
Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos — Sunday, November 8, 1:00 p.m.
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: vs. New Orleans Saints — Sunday, November 22, 1:00 p.m.
Week 12: vs. Las Vegas Raiders — Sunday, November 29, 1:00 p.m.
Week 13: at New Orleans Saints — Sunday, December 6, 1:00 p.m.
Week 14: at Los Angeles Chargers — Sunday, December 13, 4:25 p.m.
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Sunday, December 20, 1:00 p.m.
Week 16: at Kansas City Chiefs — Sunday, December 27, 1:00 p.m.
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Sunday, January 3, 1:00 p.m.