Charging Panthers take aim

ATLANTA – For a team playing less than .500 this season and woefully less than .500 in its all-time series with division rival Atlanta, the Carolina Panthers bring substantial momentum and confidence to the Georgia Dome for tonight’s game.

The Falcons have won 11 of the last 13 games in the series and hold a 13-6 lead in the rivalry, including a 27-10 victory in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 3. The Falcons are looking for their fifth sweep in the last seven years.

“Every team has somebody that they struggle with,” said Carolina defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac. “Until we put this Atlanta thing to rest, everyone is going to talk about that to us.”

The Panthers are painfully aware they have one win in nine visits to Atlanta, but they are bolstered by a five-game winning streak. At 6-7, they are back in the NFC wild-card race.

Carolina coach John Fox found one way to put a positive spin on the team’s poor history at the Georgia Dome.

“I know we’re undefeated there on Saturday night,” Fox said.

The Falcons (10-3) clinched the NFC South title with last week’s 35-10 win over Oakland. With a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the playoffs up for grabs, coach Jim Mora refused to concede Carolina has more at stake.

“No, heck no, we’ve got a ton riding on this game,” Mora said. “They’re trying to get in the playoffs. We’re trying to get a first-round bye. We’re both fighting and kicking and scratching. This game is very important to both teams, and we both realize that.”

Even without the postseason implications, Mora said the rivalry would command the attention of both teams.

“If you said that both teams were 3-10, it would still be a battle out there,” Mora said. “It’s two teams that I think really enjoy playing against each other. There’s a little something to it, and it’s a national TV game. Night games are always a little bit different.”

The Falcons’ offense won’t look the same. Starting fullback Justin Griffith is out for the rest of the year and backup tailback T.J. Duckett for at least one week.

Duckett had knee surgery Tuesday after setting a team record with four touchdown runs against the Raiders. Griffith broke an ankle in the game.