Panthers 10, Falcons 3

ATLANTA (AP) The Carolina Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak and all but ended Atlanta's playoff hopes Sunday, beating the Falcons 10-3 by shutting down the league's top running attack.

Sunday, December 24th 2006, 3:15 pm

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) The Carolina Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak and all but ended Atlanta's playoff hopes Sunday, beating the Falcons 10-3 by shutting down the league's top running attack.

The Falcons, who lead the league with 193 yards rushing per game, were outrushed 183-83 by a balanced Carolina attack that helped fill-in quarterback Chris Weinke snap a 17-game losing streak as a starter.

Weinke, who had been 1-17 as a starter, won for the first time since his 2001 rookie season with the Panthers. Weinke's 17-game losing streak is the second-longest in NFL history. The Oilers' Dan Pastorini lost 21 straight from 1972-74.

Weinke completed only 4 of 7 passes for 32 yards, including a 1-yard scoring pass to Jeff King.

The Falcons made a final comeback attempt in the final 4 minutes. A 12-yard pass from Michael Vick to Roddy White gave Atlanta a first down at the Carolina 41.

Vick overthrew Michael Jenkins on 3rd down from the Carolina 35, and his 4th-down pass was tipped at the line by former Falcons linebacker Chris Draft to end the possession with 1:19 left.

The Panthers (7-8) won the game on the ground. DeShaun Foster rushed for 102 yards on 28 carries. DeAngelo Williams added 21 carries for 82 yards rushing, with much of his production coming on keepers while lining up at quarterback in a shotgun formation.

The Falcons (7-8) lost their fourth straight at home for the first time since 1989.

Atlanta's only highlights were personal milestones for Vick and kicker Morten Andersen.

On his first carry, Vick rushed for 17 yards to become the first NFL quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Andersen gave the Falcons a 3-0 lead with a 40-yard field goal in the 1st quarter that moved him past Gary Anderson for the all-time lead with 539.

Vick had 4 carries for 32 yards and completed 9 of 18 passes for 109 yards with 2 interceptions.

Allen Rossum's potential game-tying 80-yard punt return midway through the 4th quarter was nullified by a clipping penalty against Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins.

The Panthers won despite playing without quarterback Jake Delhomme (thumb), who was out for the third straight week.

Even though Williams carried the ball on keepers on every snap he took at quarterback, the Falcons' defense was slow to adjust to the new twist in the Panthers' attack. It was the first time this season Carolina had a running back line up at quarterback.

The Panthers set the pace for their running game with their first possession, a 16-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that lasted 10 minutes, 36 seconds. Carolina called 12 straight running plays before Weinke completed his first pass for 5 yards to DeShaun Foster.

The drive took up most of the opening period and ending with Weinke's 1-yard scoring pass to King, a rookie third-string tight end. King's first career reception came two plays after Williams ran 3 yards to the 1 on his first play at quarterback.

John Kasay kicked a 42-yard field goal for Carolina in the 2nd quarter, giving the veteran 27 straight successful kicks under 50 yards.