Nov

11

Late Harrington TD pass leads Falcons past Panthers 20-13

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers 

Atlanta Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler (83) runs into the end zone for the 30-yard, game-winning touchdown as Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler, who had missed the previous two games with injury, proved to be the difference late as he hooked up with Atlanta quarterback Joey Harrington on a 30-yard TD pass with 20 seconds left in the game as the Falcons slipped past the Carolina Panthers 20-13 in Charlotte.

After the Panthers punted on their failed initial offensive series, Harrington quickly led Atlanta on a 70-yard TD drive, capped by running back Warrick Dunn’s 30-yard TD run up the middle to make the lead 7-0 Falcons. Trailing 7-0, Carolina went for it on fourth-and-inchesfrom the Atlanta 20 yard-line, Panthers QB Vinny Testaverde lobbed a pass to wide receiver Steve Smith; Smith made a leaping catch over Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall. But as Smith neared the goal line, Hall knocked the ball away; the ball rolled into the end zone then squirted out of bounds, giving Atlanta a touchback.

Testaverde did lead Carolina on a drive that led to a field goal by Panthers kicker John Kasay which tied the score at 13. A bit later, a punt return by Atlanta punt return man/wide receiver Adam Jennings allowed the Falcons to begin their winning drive at the Carolina 45-yard line. This would set up the winning score for the Falcons.

Harrington went 19-for 26 for 192 yards and a passing TD; Dunn led all Falcons’ rushers with 89 yards and a TD, while WR Roddy White led Atlanta receivers with 57 receiving yards; Crumpler added a TD. Testaverde had a horrible effort as he went 13-for-28 for 153 yards. RB DeShaun led Carolina rushers with 59 yards on 20 carries while WR Steve Smith led all Panthers receivers with 61 yards on 5 receptions. Atlanta (3-6) returns home to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday afternoon, while Carolina (4-5) goes north to challenge the NFC-North leading Green Bay Packers, also next Sunday afternoon.


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