Falcons hope they won't need late-game magic vs. Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons have figured out how to make the most of their talent so far amid a makeover.

The Carolina Panthers are still trying to sort things out ahead of the Falcons' visit to Charlotte on Sunday.

The Falcons (3-2) own a one-point victory, a two-point triumph and an overtime win after trailing in the last minute of each of those games.

"The guys just don't blink," first-year coach Raheem Morris said. "All of our games have been locked and loaded as far as a (tight margin)."

Atlanta hasn't played since winning 36-30 in overtime against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 3. The quest to show gains continues because the margins have been so tight.

"It's a constant improvement all around," Morris said. "Every week will be something different."

The Panthers (1-4) have lost two games in a row, falling to 1-2 since Andy Dalton became the starting quarterback. Most recently, Carolina fell 36-10 to the Chicago Bears and rookie QB Caleb Williams.

"The players are ones who have to step up," Dalton said. "Regardless of what the record is and how things have gone, there are a lot of positive things with this team."

Other than winning on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 22 and producing some good stretches against the Cincinnati Bengals the next week, the Panthers haven't held up well.

"We have to keep trying to take those steps," first-year Carolina coach Dave Canales said. "We go into every game hopeful that this is the week. We've had some flashes the past couple of weeks, but can we be consistent and can we consistently execute our schemes."

The Panthers will try to slow quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has given the Falcons stability at quarterback. Cousins threw for a franchise-record 509 yards in the win over the Buccaneers. Drake London has caught 32 passes from Cousins, with three going for touchdowns.

The Falcons have lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by eight points and to the Kansas City Chiefs by five points. They won their only road outing, against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 16.

"If you're a good football team, you put healthy pressure on everybody to perform," Morris said. "I think that's what we've got going on now, which is a lot of fun."

Dalton's veteran presence means the Falcons have to be prepared to adjust on defense.

"He has won a lot of games in this league," Morris said. "Nothing you give him is going to shock him."

Atlanta has been stingy on defense, and the Panthers have to be ready to deal with that. Dalton is familiar with the personnel on the other side.

"I was around (Falcons safety) Jessie Bates for a couple of years at Cincy, so I know what kind of player he is," Dalton said.

Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is 5-for-6 on field-goal attempts of 50 or more yards.

Carolina lost center Austin Corbett for the season because of a biceps tear last week, and there are concerns about the availability of right tackle Taylor Moton, who didn't finish the Chicago game because of an elbow injury and missed practice time this week. Tight end Tommy Tremble has remained in concussion protocol.

The Panthers have been busy making moves. Among the roster shifts was promoting defensive end DeShawn Williams from the practice squad while signing offensive lineman Cade Mays, who previously played for Carolina, off the New York Giants' practice squad. Mays started seven games for the Panthers across the past two seasons.

Only one Atlanta player sat out practice on Wednesday, linebacker Troy Anderson (knee).

The Falcons lead the series with Carolina by 36-22, including 15-14 on the road. The teams split last year, with Atlanta taking the season opener at home 24-10 before the Panthers responded with a 9-7 home victory in December.