Five things we learned from the Carolina Panthers’ 19-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons

Week 4 feels like so long ago on Sept. 23.

It was the last time the Carolina Panthers won a game. But Sunday, they finally did it, beating the Falcons 19-13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak. Now the key for the Panthers (4-4) is stringing together more wins.

Here are five things we learned:

1. The Panthers don’t have to overuse Christian McCaffrey

That the Panthers rushed for for 203 yards without McCaffrey should be celebrated. It shows that the Panthers can trust their backup running backs enough to spell McCaffrey when necessary.

McCaffrey is eligible to return from the injured reserve this week. And when he does, it will be wise for the Panthers to not overuse him given his recent injury history.

McCaffrey has had multiple injuries to all parts of his body over the past two seasons, from a shoulder, ankle, quad and, most recently, a hamstring.

Chuba Hubbard and now Ameer Abdullah have done enough to provide confidence in their abilities. Hubbard ran for 82 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.

Abdullah added 31 yards on eight carries, but where he was most impressive was catching the ball. He looked swift and was often hard to bring down. He had three catches for 35 yards.

Panthers coach Matt Rhule called Abdullah, who the Panthers signed last month, “a jolt of energy.”

“It’s a shame that one third down got called back because I think he’s got something to him that even the third-down conversion — those routes that we usually run with Christian, and I think Sam (Darnold) is developing a really nice rapport with Ameer. So whenever Christian comes back, it’s just another premier talent to go along with a bunch of other guys who are figuring it out.”

2. Shaq Thompson’s presence was missed

Thompson showed that he’s a baller. He played in 35 of the team’s 53 defensive snaps and led the Panthers with 10 tackles. He also had an important interception late in the second quarter, stopping a drive that looked promising for the Falcons.

The interception was Thompson’s second of the season.

“Shaq stepped up,” Rhule said. “Turned the tide of the game.”

The Panthers weren’t even sure how much Thompson would play after returning from a foot injury that caused him to miss the past three games.

But he played most of the defensive snaps and was perhaps the Panthers’ best defensive player, even if he did get trucked by former teammate Mike Davis. He eventually got his payback.

Thompson is the Panthers’ leader on defense, and his teammates look up to him. Throughout the week, his teammates talked about how they missed his presence and his voice in huddles. Thompson admitted Thursday that it was difficult to be that leader for his team when he wasn’t in a uniform.

But it was obvious his presence and performance gave the Panthers a much-needed spark.

3. Turnovers are key

When the Panthers win the turnover battle, they give themselves a much better chance to win.

That was the case Sunday.

Before the game, the Panthers had 11 giveaways and six takeaways. They turned it over nine times in their four losses. Darnold was responsible for eight of those turnovers, and it was why they had struggled recently. They kept giving the ball away and giving their opponents more opportunities to score.

And while they turned it over on the first play of the game against the Falcons — a Hubbard fumble — they made up for it by forcing two turnovers on defense.

Thompson and cornerback Stephon Gilmore both had interceptions in Carolina territory when it appeared the Falcons were about to score.

Those turnovers were the turning points in the game.

Darnold took care of the football. He made smart throws and looked poised. That’s what the Panthers needed.

4. Running the football is the formula

If Sunday showed anything, it’s that the Panthers have to continue to run the ball.

The Falcons entered the game as one of the better run defenses in the league. But the Panthers stuck with the run and it paid off. The Panthers ran it 47 times for 203 yards.

That likely took pressure off Darnold to produce. He threw it 24 times.

And the Panthers were 10 of 17 on third-down conversions.

Because they were able to run it effectively, they controlled the game. They won the time-of-possession battle by 10 minutes. Three of their five scoring drives lasted longer than seven minutes.

Darnold suffered a head injury late in the game. And if he has to miss time, the Panthers should continue to establish the run.

“This team is going to go as far as that run game, the way things are playing out,” backup quarterback P.J. Walker said.

5. Sam Darnold’s problems were fixable

After Darnold’s performance against the Giants last week, the Panthers coaching staff had Darnold spent time watching film from the Week 2 win against the Saints and what he was doing correctly. He also watched his most recent film.

Darnold’s footwork had been off. He looked uncomfortable.

But whatever Darnold saw, he fixed. He looked much more comfortable. He was also protected in the pocket. The offensive line didn’t give up a sack.

He also ran the ball eight times for 66 yards, something he hadn’t done much in recent weeks.

Darnold was not available to speak to the media Sunday after his head injury.

This version of Darnold, when healthy, can win games. Rhule said he thought Darnold was excellent. Darnold’s stats were not off the charts. He finished 13 of 24 for 129 yards and probably should have had a touchdown in the first half, if not for a DJ Moore drop in the end zone. But he gave his teammates an opportunity to succeed.

This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Five things we learned from the Carolina Panthers’ 19-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons."