Penix, Falcons have to beat Panthers and hope for help in their last chance to end playoff drought

ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. knows the Atlanta Falcons can't control their playoff hopes when they close their regular season Sunday against Carolina.

That control disappeared with last week's 30-24 overtime loss at Washington.

Penix, Atlanta's rookie quarterback, can't worry about NFC South-leading Tampa Bay's game against New Orleans on Sunday. If the Buccaneers win, they clinch the division and end the Falcons' hopes of making their first playoff appearance since 2017.

For the Falcons, a win by Tampa Bay would be bad. Even worse, however, would be having the Buccaneers lose while Atlanta falls at home to Carolina. So Penix knows he must focus on the Panthers in his third NFL start.

Penix isn't banking on the Panthers' lopsided 48-14 loss at Tampa Bay last week as evidence the Falcons can expect to beat Carolina.

"I mean, it’s the NFL,” Penix said. "I always say that you can’t overlook them. ... As far as we know, we still (are) in it, so we’ve got to continue to play hard and come in with the right mindset this week.”

The Falcons (8-8) are looking to complete a sweep of their season series with the Panthers (4-12). Bijan Robinson ran for two touchdowns in a 38-20 win at Carolina on Oct. 13.

Despite last week's ugly loss, quarterback Bryce Young has shown improvement in his return as Carolina's starter. Young has completed 60.4% of his passes (172 of 285) since being restored as the starter in Week 8 against Denver. He has passed for 12 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Young passed for two touchdowns and ran for a score in a 36-30 overtime win over Arizona two weeks ago.

Panthers coach Dave Canales says he has been impressed by his team's spirit even while losing five of its last six games.

“The fight — I’ve just loved every minute of this team,” Canales said. “Regardless of the outcome of the games, the fight in this team to just continue to play for pride, for each other, it means something to them.”

Penix took over Atlanta's offense when veteran Kirk Cousins was benched on Dec. 17. Penix is 1-1 in his first two starts. Though he has passed for only one touchdown with two interceptions, he has impressed coach Raheem Morris with his composure, completing two fourth-down passes to force overtime last week at Washington.

“You talk about this kid and you talk about the poise,” Morris said. “It was almost waiting to celebrate for him that he’s going to get it done because you kind of felt so confident in him being able to do it. And to a fault, probably overconfident with the kid because he’s so good and he’s so talented. He can do anything.”

Don’t be surprised if the Falcons bring the pressure against Young.

The Buccaneers pressured Young 68.6% of the time on pass plays, which was the highest pressure rate faced by any NFL QB in a game this season, according to Next Gen Stats. He was sacked five times.

Canales said Young did a good job of handling the pressure.

“He was a stud about it. He just kept battling,” Canales said, adding that Young "just stood in there, and he kept operating, which is what I was proud of again, to be able to just keep hunting and trying to find opportunities down the field.”

The Falcons' pass rush has enjoyed a late-season surge with at least three sacks in each of the last five games, including five last week against Washington.

Morris says the Falcons will “definitely play the ‘if’ game” by having interest in Tampa Bay's score against New Orleans as the games will be played at the same time.

But Morris says the Falcons must keep their focus.

“It comes to a certain point where the ‘if’ game has to end and you have to go out there and establish your business and go out there and find a way to win this football game,” Morris said.

The Panthers have placed three running backs on injured reserve this season, including 1,100-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard before to last week’s game against Tampa Bay.

Raheem Blackshear was ineffective in a fill-in role against the Bucs. The backfield could be getting some help this week the potential return of veteran Miles Sanders from IR. Sanders returned to practice this week and is expected to play for the first time since Nov. 10.

The Panthers have long been eliminated from playoff contention, but Canales doesn’t just want his team simply playing out the string.

He said the final game is about “finishing” and "finding our style of play.”

“That’s the challenge that we have right in front of us, is can we refocus one more time?" Canales said.

AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales watches against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) hands off to running back Bijan Robinson (7) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Landover. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. talks to reporters after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Landover, Md. The Commanders won 30-24. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is sacked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) passes during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Landover. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joe Burrow passed for 277 yards and a touchdown, Cade York kicked four field goals and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 19-17 win over the floundering Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.

Burrow also threw an interception and his NFL record streak of consecutive games with at least 250 yards passing and three touchdowns came to an end. But he did enough to propel the Bengals (9-8) to their fifth straight win and keep them in the mix until the season's final day.

Cincinnati will earn the seventh seed in the AFC if Denver loses to Kansas City and Miami either loses to or ties the New York Jets on Sunday.

Burrow completed 37 of 46 passes, including a 12-yard touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase on Cincinnati's first possession that gave the Bengals a lead they never gave up. Chase finished with 10 receptions for 96 yards to put the NFL's “Triple Crown” for receivers (catches, yards and touchdowns) within reach.

The Bengals' late run began after a 44-38 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 1 dropped them to 4-8. They haven't lost since, with Burrow playing at an MVP level and their once porous defense playing its best football of the season.

Cincinnati held reeling Pittsburgh (10-7) to 193 yards — more than 300 less than the 520 the Steelers rolled up in the first meeting — and turned aside a late rally. Trey Hendrickson sacked Russell Wilson 3 1/2 times to boost his season total to an NFL-leading 17 1/2 on a night the Bengals never let the playoff-bound Steelers get on track.

Wilson passed for 148 yards and a touchdown, both the score and the vast majority of the yards coming during the fourth quarter when the Steelers were desperately playing catchup. Wilson hit Pat Freiermuth for a 19-yard touchdown pass and Chris Boswell hit a 54-yard field goal to get Pittsburgh within two.

The Steelers got the ball back just after the 2-minute warning but never made it to Cincinnati territory. Wilson threw incomplete to Freiermuth on fourth down and Burrow came out for a kneeldown that extended the Bengals' season to the final day.

Pittsburgh is assured of playing next week despite a four-game losing streak. The Steelers will be the fifth seed if the Los Angeles Chargers lose at Las Vegas. If the Chargers win, Pittsburgh will be the sixth seed and travel to rival Baltimore in the first round.

Bengals: Burrow was tended to by trainers on the field after taking a sack in the third quarter. He was evaluated in the medical tent but did not miss an offense snap. ... WR Tee Higgins exited with a left ankle injury in the second half and did not return to what could be his final game with Cincinnati. ... Guard Cody Ford sustained a chest injury in the third quarter but stayed in the game.

Steelers: Running back Najee Harris exited in the fourth quarter with a head injury following a 12-yard reception.

Bengals: Hope for some help on Sunday.

Steelers: At either Houston or Baltimore next week.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr. (31) celebrates an interception with safety Damontae Kazee (23) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Cade York (3) kicks a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth (88) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) avoids Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) with Cincinnati Bengals guard Cordell Volson (67) during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)