The Carolina Panthers’ dominance in their running game proved enough to hold off a late Atlanta Falcons comeback attempt on a rainy Thursday Night Football.
In the 25-15 win at Bank of America Stadium, Panthers running back D'Onta Foreman ran for 130 yards on 31 carries and a touchdown, while Laviska Shenault Jr. added a 41-yard touchdown. The team ran for a season-high 232 yards.
Carolina quarterback PJ Walker finished with 108 passing yards and – after being benched last week with two interceptions – a flawless evening on that front.
The win somewhat avenges the heartbreaking loss suffered to the Falcons just 11 days earlier in which Carolina kicker Eddie Pineiro missed two kicks which would have sealed the victory.
But this time around, in rainy conditions in North Carolina, Pineiro successfully made four field goals as the Panthers claimed an important victory.Foreman, a free agent signing in the offseason, has thrived in the starting role since Christian McCaffrey was traded in October
In the past four games, the 26-year-old has totaled 389 rushing yards and four touchdowns as he makes the case for a long-term contract with the team.
Interim Panthers head coach Steve Wilks called Foreman “very impressive” afterwards, while the running back said it “means a lot” to beat the Falcons after the heartbreak of a few weeks ago.
“I know how much it means to the organization and to the guys in this locker room. It was big, especially on primetime TV. We played a collective game: offense, defense, special teams, we just put it together. We were able to get the win.”