Quarterback Cam Newton completed 18-of-43 pass attempts for 198 yards and one touchdown along with two interceptions.
Atlanta scored 13 points before the Panthers got on the scoreboard. The Falcons quickly countered after Carolina's field goal, as quarterback Matt Ryan engineered a 75-yard, 4:43 drive to score a touchdown that then set the halftime score at 20-3.
Carolina's offensive highlight of the day involved Greg Olsen's record-setting performance. Olsen entered the game needing only eight yards to become the first tight end in NFL history to record three consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards.