Falcons climbing pecking order in NFC South
ATLANTA - Michael Turner tied a team record with four rushing touchdowns, Harry Douglas scored the first two TDs of his career - the second on a 61-yard punt return - and the surprising Atlanta Falcons romped to a 45-28 win over the Carolina Panthers to move within a game of the NFC South lead.
Turner, a first-year Falcon, rushed for 117 yards to go over 1,000 for the first time in his career, and scored his first three TDs on bruising runs of 1, 4, and 1 yards - the last on fourth down when the Falcons decided to go for it instead of settle for a field goal that would have given them just a 6-point lead with about seven minutes to go.
"I think it makes the decision a little easier when you've got a physical running back like Michael," said rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, who was 17 of 27 for 259 yards. "His effort is the biggest thing. He continues to run hard from the first quarter through the fourth quarter. He's tough to bring down."
So was Douglas, but for a very different reason. Showing off his blazing speed, the rookie receiver scored his first TD on a 7-yard end-around and took off with a 69-yard pass that set up another score. But it was his final play everyone will remember.
Carolina's Jason Barker got off a booming punt from the back of his end zone, but that merely gave Douglas time to decide what he wanted to do. He surveyed the field for a split second, took off to his left, then cut back right through a huge hole.
Barker was the last man to beat, but Douglas merely pointed at him the final 10 yards before leaping into the Georgia Dome stands to celebrate a 38-21 lead with less than five minutes to go.
"Once I made my cut, I saw the opening and I saw I had two guys to beat," Douglas said. "One guy was covered by our guy. Just the punter was left."
The Panthers were done, falling into a first-place tie with Tampa Bay at 8-3.
Atlanta (7-4) raced to a 17-0 lead, endured a Carolina comeback, and blew it open in the final minutes.
Douglas caught four balls for 92 yards, had three punt returns for 93 yards, and scored the Falcons' first touchdown.
"Whatever they need me to do, wherever they need me to play, that's why I'm here," he said. 