Know Your Foe: Atlanta Falcons, round two

CHARLOTTE – When we first met our friends down I-85 in October, the Falcons had won three of four with a +8 scoring margin in those games.

Since losing 19-13 to Carolina in Week 8, Atlanta has gone 2-3 with a -69 scoring margin.

Atlanta, like Carolina and so many other NFC teams, sits at 5-7 and teetering between a run at a wild card spot or a Top 10 draft pick.

Carolina has only won two home games against the Falcons dating back to 2013, and Cam Newton figured largely in each of those wins (2015, 2017). How he matches up against his hometown team on Sunday will be important to watch.

Speaking of Newton, he’ll be hoping to stay more upright against the Falcons after the bye.

Atlanta barely touched Tom Brady in their loss last week to the Buccaneers at home.

The Falcons currently rank last in the NFL in sacks (15) and pressure rate (19.9 percent), according to Next Gen Stats.

That could prove fortuitous for a Panthers offensive line that struggled in Week 12 at Miami.

MATT RYAN STRUGGLING UNDER PRESSURE

When blitzed, Ryan has thrown a league-high seven interceptions with a passer rating of 75.6, ranking 24th among qualified quarterbacks.

When he isn’t blitzed, Ryan’s rating is 95.5 and his 2.25 TD/INT ratio is tied for ninth in the NFL.

Ryan’s 2,914 pass yards so far means he’s likely to record his 13th career 3,000-yard season on Sunday, tying Dan Marino for eighth-most in NFL history.