Carolina offense vs. Atlanta defense

	PANTHERS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	14
	Pass	7
	Tot. Yds.	7
	Scoring	11
	Int's allowed	7
	Sacks allowed	20
	FALCONS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	27
	vs. Pass	4
	Total yds. allowed	15
	No. of INTs	4
	No. of Sacks	13
	Turnover differential	-15

Carolina coach George Seifert has openly admitted that he was out coached last week by Detroit's Bobby Ross, but the Panthers' red-zone struggles can also be attributed to poor execution by his players. Sure, the Panthers should be throwing more fade routes to WR Mushin Muhammad, but there is no excuse for losing 30 yards and committing two turnovers in five trips inside the 5 yard line.

The loss of starting LOG Matt Campbell killed them on two off tackle runs near the goal line. Replacement Bryan Stoltenberg and LOT Clarence Jones allowed too much penetration at the point of attack, and the backs had little time to make defenders miss. Stoltenberg and the entire line must do a better job of picking up the run blitz this week because RB Tim Biakabutuka's ankle injury will force backup Fred Lane into the lineup. Biakabutuka received few practice reps last week and his performance suffered so Seifert will turn to Lane for production.

With Lane in the lineup, offensive coordinator Gil Haskell will use more of an inside running game to take advantage of Lane's vision and quickness through the hole. Carolina had shifted to a wide running game with Biakabutuka but Seifert won't play him if he's not ready.

The Falcons will be in big trouble on Sunday if MLB Jesse Tuggle can't play for the third straight week. Rookie Jeff Kelly had a team-high nine tackles last week against Pittsburgh but he was too slow to the hole and didn't hold his ground nearly as well as Tuggle.

Weak-side backer Keith Brooking returns this week and his presence should stabilize a unit that has struggled badly the past two weeks because of numerous personnel changes. With starters playing out of position and backups forced into significant roles, the Falcons LB corps cannot play any worse.

QB Steve Beuerlein must bounce back from his worst performance of the season last week against the Lions. While the numbers (26-of-47, 299 yds, 1 INT) don't reflect his ineffectiveness, Buerlein must find a way to execute on Sunday with a decimated receiving corps. With Patrick Jeffers and Rae Carruth likely out, veteran Eric Metcalf and sophomore Donald Hayes must find a way to get better separation from the Falcons secondary than the Steelers did last Monday night.

The biggest key to the Panthers passing game will be the involvement of Pro Bowl TE Wesley Walls, who failed to catch a single pass for the first time all season against Detroit. Walls scored a touchdown in both meetings against the Falcons last season because "Sam" linebacker Henri Crockett was caught out of position in the Falcons' zone defense. Atlanta's fourth rated pass defense has done a better job of preventing the big play in recent weeks but they need to start making plays of their own. The Falcons' interception total (4) is the third lowest in the league.

Carolina DCs Evans and Davis are giving generous cushions, allowing receivers to make the easy 5-yard catch. In theory this is not a bad defensive philosophy but Evans' inability to tackle people is becoming a lingering problem. Last week, Detroit's Johnnie Morton broke an Evans arm tackle and raced up the sideline to convert a critical third down. This is not the type of effort the Panthers can afford against the Falcons' 13th rated passing offense.

As is the case with every team that faces Chandler, the Panthers must get physical with Chandler. Whether they sack him is not the issue, John Marshall's defense will be gunning for consistent knockdowns. The Falcons' offensive line has given up the third most sacks in the league and the Panthers will target the majority of their blitzes inside because they have had trouble generating pressure with DTs Sean Gilbert and Tim Morabito.

Atlanta Head Coach Dan Reeves has to do something about how predictable his offense is becoming. Of RB Ken Oxendine's 14 carries, twelve came on simple dives up the middle. Ineffective nickel RB Byron Hanspard received only four carries against the Steelers because he no longer has the speed he once did to get to the corner. The Falcons are averaging an embarrassing 68.3 yards per game on the ground and Reeves desperately needs to shake things up a bit.

Veteran LOG Greg Bishop, who got his first start last Monday in place of second-year player Bob Hallen, isn't very athletic but he's a scrappy in-line blocker that fits better with the Falcons' power running game.

The Panthers are giving up over 135 yards per game on the ground and the majority of the blame can be placed on their linebackers. OLBs Michael Barrow and Kevin Greene were slow to react all afternoon last Sunday against Detroit and combined for just one solo tackle.

Both sides are struggling on returns so don't look for any game altering plays on special teams. Atlanta PK Morten Anderson is 6-of-7 since missing his first four field goal attempts of the season. The punting of Carolina's Ken Walter and Atlanta's Dan Stryzinski will be pivotal in a game where field position will be essential.