The Panthers have lost 4 games in a row including a 37-3 meltdown last week to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The Falcons lost 38-28 to the Cowboys last week, but have won 2 of their last 3 games.

The Panthers would be smart to run the football with DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams against the Falcons who have allowed 102.2 yards rushing per game this season and 3.8 yards per carry.  The Falcons pass defense allows 236.2 net yards passing per game, but Chris Weinke has had big-time trouble with interceptions.  Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson could have good games if Weinke plays better than he has, but their are no guarantees that he will.

The Falcons will go with the recipe that helped them dominate the first meeting between these two teams and that’s to run the football alot.  Warrick Dunn (1,053 yards rushing) & Michael Vick (990 yards rushing) look to join Kevin Mack & Ernest Byner and Larry Csonka & Jim Kiick as the only pairs of players to each rush for over 1,000 yards during a season for the same team.  That will happen sometime probably in the first quarter.  If the Panthers stack the box, and they probably will, look for Vick to throw the ball to Alge Crumpler or deeper to Ashley Lelie, Roddy White or Michael Jenkins.

The Falcons won the first meeting between these teams 20-6 in Carolina.  The dropoff from Jake Delhomme to Chris Weinke almost guarantees an easy with for the Falcons.