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| Other Week 10 Game Recaps | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL at CAR | BAL at CLE | BUF at TEN | CHI at SF | CIN at PIT | DAL at GB | DEN at WAS | DET at MIN |
| JAX at NYJ | KC at OAK | NE at IND | NO at STL | PHI at SD | SEA at ARI | TB at MIA | |
Week 10 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 19, Carolina Panthers 28
Atlanta Falcons
| QB Matt Ryan, Pass: 22 - 41 - 224 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 4 - 0 |
Ryan had yet another uneven day as the Falcons chances to win were in his hands, and he couldn't seal the deal. Ryan looked pretty good on timing play and on rollouts, but his downfield accuracy was spotty at best. His two interceptions came on downfield targets to Michael Jenkins that he airmailed, including one when the Falcons were set up with possession at midfield down only two points late in the fourth quarter. Ryan remained fearless throwing the ball into small windows, and he moved around well, but he had another throw that should have been a pick at the goal line, and in general he was too careless with the ball. His one touchdown came on a play action fake on fourth down at the goal line, but he produced no big plays for this offense all day. Ryan is trending the wrong direction heading into a big matchup vs. the Giants.
| RB Jason Snelling, Rush: 18 - 61 - 1, Rec: 3 - 32 - 0 (5 targets) |
Snelling answered the bell when Michael Turner left with an ankle injury. His power, burst, and moves aren't overwhelming, but they are good enough to get the job done. He has soft hands runs precise routes as a receiver, with good run after catch instincts, although he bobbled the two-point conversion attempt that could have tied the game in the fourth quarter. Snelling also bring a lot of fight to his game on short yardage carries. He seems to pick the right hole with good vision on most touches. His well-rounded game should give him RB2 value while Michael Turner is out.
| RB Michael Turner, Rush: 9 - 111 - 0 |
Turner was well on his way to a 200 yard game when he took a hit right on the ankle in the red zone. He was running with superb vision, cuts, speed, and balance. It was almost always taking more than one man to bring him down, and usually well downfield. The breakaway burst was apparent in the open field. It has to be heartbreaking to his owners that Turner went down just as he was running as well as he has in his career.
| WR Roddy White, Rec: 7 - 98 - 0 (11 targets) |
White was questionable with a knee going into the game, but there were no signs that he was limited in this one. He had one big play by snatching the competed-for ball with his strong hands at the sidelines and then running away from the defender, but Matt Ryan didn't really give White a chance to get any deep targets or take any quick slants for big gains. He did get one red zone target, but otherwise White pretty much maximized his fantasy value on a mediocre day for the Falcons passing offense.
| WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 4 - 15 - 0 (9 targets) |
Jenkins is looking more and more like a receiver who the Falcons will look to upgrade from each week. He doesn't have much in the way of speed or athleticism, and he had another bad drop in this game. The interceptions were Ryan's fault, but Jenkins didn't show much in the way of a vertical leap in an attempt to get to the high passes. Jenkins was also tackled easily after his receptions. He looks stiff and unable to be more than a possession receiver right now.
| TE Tony Gonzalez, Rec: 6 - 67 - 0 (11 targets) |
Gonzo did his damage close to the line of scrimmage and made a few moves/broke a few tackles after the catch, but he wasn't ripping the seams or put in position to make game-changing plays today. He did get an end zone target, but the one touchdown pass by the Falcons went his counterpart Justin Peelle. Gonzalez will continue to be a top-end starting fantasy TE, but the explosive plays just aren't there for him in this passing offense.
Carolina Panthers
| QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 15 - 24 - 195 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 11 - 0 |
What a difference the no-huddle offense and return of Muhsin Muhammad made for Delhomme. The Panthers ran the no-huddle on two scoring drives in the first half and it seemed to perk up Delhomme's game. He was more engaged, throwing the ball with more zip, and playing more relaxed. He made good decisions all day, and wasn't tentative or afraid to throw the ball into small windows. Both of his TD passes to Steve Smith were throws that had to be precise - one over a defender, the other between defenders - and they were. If he keeps playing like this, the Panthers could get in wildcard contention because we know they can run the ball and the defense has overcome some major losses.
| RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 19 - 92 - 0, Rec: 1 - 30 - 0 (1 targets) |
Williams was an ankle tackle away from big runs on at least two occasions on a day that could have been a lot bigger. Stewart got the one-yard plunge, but Williams got a goal-to-go touch, but he was pulled for Stewart on the next play, and Stewart also got the call when Steve Smith was tackled at the one-yard line. Williams ran with the same power, exceptional burst, balance, and toughness that we have seen from him all year. There were absolutely no signs that the knee that made him a game-time decision had any effect on his game whatsoever.
| RB Jonathan Stewart, Rush: 11 - 82 - 2 (2 targets) |
Stewart ground out the tough yards for the Panthers offense, and applied the death blow with a long TD run on third down when the Falcons were trying to get the ball back for one last desperation drive. Stewart fought through tackles and wore down the defense on his carries, always falling forward and getting yards after contact. He burrowed in from one yard out to score his other TD. He will continue to have low-end RB2/high-end flex value as long as the Panthers are a competitive team.
| WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 6 - 91 - 0 (8 targets) |
Muhammad triumphantly returned to the lineup with a strong performance. He was getting open downfield consistently, and getting yards after the catch, even breaking tackles after more than one catch. He showed that his timing with Delhomme is still on point on a back shoulder throw at the sidelines, and Muhammad seemed to be Delhomme's preferred first read in the no-huddle. He's worth a pickup in deep PPR leagues.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 4 - 34 - 2 (4 targets) |
Smith usually has big games against Atlanta and he didn't disappoint on Sunday. Although he didn't get behind the defense for any big gains, Smith had a scintillating TD catch while he was being interfered with, and he took a shot to the ribs that sidelined him for a bit to score his other TD on the day. Smith didn't stretch the defense, but he didn't need to because he helped finish drives and get the game script where the Panthers wanted it. This game was a taste of what his value could be if Delhomme continues to play well.
| WR Dwayne Jarrett, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets) |
Jarrett fought really hard for a first down on his target during the game-opening drive, but he wasn't heard from again after that.
| TE Jeff King, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (3 targets) |
The Panthers TE merry-go-round continued. With Muhsin Muhammad back, there weren't many targets to go around, but King converted two of his for solid gains.