Week 1, 1988

played in Atlanta, GA

89 degrees, fair, calm

Carolina Panthers	14	14	0	3	-	31
Atlanta Falcons	7	0	3	0	-	10

Scoring Summary
1Q: 10:37 CAR - John Stephens 9 run (John Lee extra point)
1Q: 04:53 ATL - Thurman Thomas 7 pass from Chris Chandler (Steve De Line extra point)
1Q: 02:12 CAR - Carlos Carson 12 pass from Bill Kenney (John Lee extra point)
2Q: 10:25 CAR - Herman Heard 2 run (John Lee extra point)
2Q: 03:45 CAR - Doug Donley 14 pass from Bill Kenney (John Lee extra point)
3Q: 06:59 ATL - Steve De Line 20 field goal
4Q: 01:05 CAR - John Lee 18 field goal

Scoring Summary
1Q: 10:37 CAR - John Stephens 9 run (John Lee extra point)
1Q: 04:53 ATL - Thurman Thomas 7 pass from Chris Chandler (Steve De Line extra point)
1Q: 02:12 CAR - Carlos Carson 12 pass from Bill Kenney (John Lee extra point)
2Q: 10:25 CAR - Herman Heard 2 run (John Lee extra point)
2Q: 03:45 CAR - Doug Donley 14 pass from Bill Kenney (John Lee extra point)
3Q: 06:59 ATL - Steve De Line 20 field goal
4Q: 01:05 CAR - John Lee 18 field goal

Team Statistics CAR ATL
Record 1-0 0-1
First Downs 26 17
- by Rushing 14 3
- by Passing 10 13
- by Penalty 2 1
Total Net Yards 438 310
- Offensive Plays 68 58
- Yards per Play 6.44 5.34
Net Rushing Yards 231 62
- Rushing Attempts 42 17
- Yards per Rush 5.50 3.65
Net Passing Yards 207 248
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 24 - 17 - 0 39 - 22 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards 221 258
- Sacks/Yards Lost 2/14 2/10
- Yards per Pass Play 7.96 6.05
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 0/0
3rd Down Conversions 8/14 6/14
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 5.3 5.1
4th Down Conversions 0/0 0/0
Penalties/Yards 7/59 4/21
Punt Returns/Yards 1/16 1/50
Kick Returns/Yards 2/45 2/45
Interception Ret./Yards 1/0 0/0
2pt Conversions 0/0 0/0
Red Zone Visits 5 2
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 4/1 1/1
Avg. Drive Start OWN 25 OWN 27
Time of Possession 35:17 24:43

Team Statistics	CAR	ATL
Record	1-0	0-1
First Downs	26	17
- by Rushing	14	3
- by Passing	10	13
- by Penalty	2	1
Total Net Yards	438	310
- Offensive Plays	68	58
- Yards per Play	6.44	5.34
Net Rushing Yards	231	62
- Rushing Attempts	42	17
- Yards per Rush	5.50	3.65
Net Passing Yards	207	248
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	24 - 17 - 0	39 - 22 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards	221	258
- Sacks/Yards Lost	2/14	2/10
- Yards per Pass Play	7.96	6.05
Fumbles/Lost	0/0	0/0
3rd Down Conversions	8/14	6/14
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	5.3	5.1
4th Down Conversions	0/0	0/0
Penalties/Yards	7/59	4/21
Punt Returns/Yards	1/16	1/50
Kick Returns/Yards	2/45	2/45
Interception Ret./Yards	1/0	0/0
2pt Conversions	0/0	0/0
Red Zone Visits	5	2
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	4/1	1/1
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 25	OWN 27
Time of Possession	35:17	24:43

Drive Charts

Carolina Panthers
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	4:32	OWN 34	8	66	Touchdown
1	8:32	0:54	OWN 10	3	-6	Punt
1	4:46	2:45	OWN 23	5	77	Touchdown
2	15:00	4:45	OWN 45	8	55	Touchdown
2	7:19	3:42	OWN 20	7	80	Touchdown
2	2:11	1:06	OWN 33	3	4	Punt
3	10:11	2:03	OWN 42	3	4	Punt
3	6:54	3:31	OWN 28	6	27	Punt
3	1:19	3:40	OWN 20	7	28	Punt
4	9:30	8:32	OWN 3	18	96	Field Goal

Atlanta Falcons
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	10:28	1:56	OWN 20	3	8	Punt
1	7:38	2:52	OPP 40	7	40	Touchdown
1	2:01	2:01	OWN 20	3	6	Punt
2	10:15	2:56	OWN 20	7	29	Punt
2	3:37	1:26	OWN 37	4	18	Interception
2	1:05	1:05	OWN 23	2	12	Half
3	15:00	4:49	OWN 34	12	31	Missed FG
3	8:08	1:14	OPP 39	4	36	Field Goal
3	3:23	2:04	OWN 14	4	40	Punt
4	12:39	3:09	OWN 7	7	36	Punt
4	0:58	0:58	OWN 9	6	74	Game

Game MVP: John Stephens, Carolina Panthers

Rushing Statistics

Carolina	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
John Stephens	34	201	5.91	35	6	1
Herman Heard	8	30	3.75	12	1	1

Atlanta	Att	Yards	Avg	LG
Thurman Thomas	9	30	3.33	8
Jamie Mueller	4	10	2.50	5
Chris Chandler	2	9	4.50	5
Robert Lavette	1	5	5.00	5
Scott Schwedes	1	8	8.00	8

Passing Statistics

Carolina	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Bill Kenney	24	17	221	2/14	2	52	0	127.2

Atlanta	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Chris Chandler	39	22	258	2/10	1	41	1	74.5

Receiving Statistics

Carolina	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Doug Donley	4	7	47	11.75	3	14	1
WR Stephen Baker	3	5	82	27.33	20	52	0
WR Carlos Carson	2	2	22	11.00	2	12	1
WR Byron Franklin	2	2	41	20.50	11	27	0
TE Trey Junkin	2	2	10	5.00	0	6	0
FB Dennis Bligen	2	3	-1	-0.50	0	0	0
TE Billy Griggs	2	2	20	10.00	5	16	0
WR Phil Freeman	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

Atlanta	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Flip Johnson	5	5	60	12.00	34	33	0
WR Scott Schwedes	4	6	59	14.75	18	41	0
RB Thurman Thomas	4	7	27	6.75	7	11	1
WR Glen Kozlowski	3	6	54	18.00	0	39	0
WR Dwight Stone	2	9	21	10.50	3	16	0
TE Brian Kinchen	2	2	18	9.00	0	9	0
RB Robert Lavette	1	2	15	15.00	9	15	0
TE Ferrell Edmunds	1	1	4	4.00	0	4	0
RB Jamie Mueller	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

Interception Statistics

Carolina	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
OLB John Rade	1	0	0.00	0

Atlanta	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Fumble Statistics

Carolina	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD

Atlanta	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD

Punting Statistics

Carolina	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Luke Prestridge	5	195	39.0	30.4	45	3

Atlanta	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Sean Landeta	5	251	50.2	39.0	55	2

Kicking Statistics

Carolina	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
John Lee	1/1	0/0	0/0	18	4/4

Atlanta	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Steve De Line	1/2	0/1	0/1	20	1/1

Punt Return Statistics

Carolina	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Doug Donley	1	16	16.0	0

Atlanta	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Jarvis Williams	1	50	50.0	0

Kick Return Statistics

Carolina	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Doug Donley	1	29	29.0	0
Phil Freeman	1	16	16.0	0

Atlanta	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Robert Lavette	1	25	25.0	0
Glen Kozlowski	1	20	20.0	0

Defensive Statistics

Carolina	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
S Carlton Williamson	8	2	0.0	15	39
CB Harvey Clayton	6	0	0.0	9	30
OLB John Rade	5	3	0.0	14	37
OLB Gary Plummer	4	1	1.0	13	32
DE Sean Jones	3	0	0.0	13	33
CB Perry Williams	2	2	0.0	15	27
ILB Craig Shaffer	2	0	0.0	14	22
DE Bruce Smith	2	0	0.0	5	15
DE Mark Studaway	1	1	1.0	12	26
CB William Judson	1	2	0.0	6	23
CB Bobby Watkins	1	1	0.0	15	25
DT Mark Shumate	1	1	0.0	5	21
ILB Jackie Shipp	1	0	0.0	4	17
S Solomon Wilcots	1	0	0.0	15	34
DT Jeff Wright	1	0	0.0	12	20

Atlanta	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
S Terry Wright	6	3	0.0	28	23
ILB Don Graham	6	2	0.0	31	17
DE Curtis Maxie	6	1	0.0	24	14
CB Brian Marvin	5	0	0.0	29	17
DE Don Fielder	4	1	0.0	18	12
DE Reggie Rogers	3	2	1.0	24	14
OLB Alex Moyer	3	2	0.0	15	17
S Rickey Dixon	3	2	0.0	36	21
CB Quintin Jones	3	1	0.0	28	16
S Rich Johnson	3	1	0.0	19	14
OLB Ravin Caldwell	3	0	0.0	21	12
OLB Brett Faryniarz	2	2	1.0	29	16
OLB Scott Burman	2	2	0.0	18	11
CB Jarvis Williams	2	1	0.0	28	12
DE Steve Hamilton	2	0	0.0	18	12
ILB Hardy Nickerson	2	0	0.0	12	8
DT Mickey Mestnik	1	3	0.0	24	12
OLB Ken Rose	1	1	0.0	11	9
WR Dwight Stone	1	0	---	---	---
CB Reggie Sutton	0	1	0.0	29	15
DT Deangelo Hall	0	1	0.0	20	14

Pass Rush Statistics

Carolina	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
OLB Gary Plummer	1.0	1	2	2	32
DE Mark Studaway	1.0	0	0	0	26
DT Jeff Wright	0.0	1	0	0	20
DE Sean Jones	0.0	0	2	2	33
OLB John Rade	0.0	0	2	0	37
DT Mark Shumate	0.0	0	1	0	21
ILB Wayne Davis	0.0	0	1	0	9

Atlanta	Sack	Block	Hurry	PPlay
DE Reggie Rogers	1.0	0	0	14
OLB Brett Faryniarz	1.0	0	0	16
DE Curtis Maxie	0.0	1	0	14
OLB Scott Burman	0.0	0	1	11

Pass Defense Statistics

Carolina	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
CB Harvey Clayton	6	1	0	30
OLB John Rade	3	0	1	37
S Carlton Williamson	3	0	0	39
OLB Gary Plummer	2	0	0	32
CB William Judson	1	0	0	23
CB Bobby Watkins	1	0	0	25
DE Sean Jones	1	0	0	33
ILB Jackie Shipp	1	0	0	17
CB Perry Williams	1	0	0	27
DE Bruce Smith	1	0	0	15
S Solomon Wilcots	1	0	0	34
DT Jeff Wright	1	0	0	20
ILB Dante Jones	0	1	0	14

Atlanta	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
S Terry Wright	3	0	23
S Rickey Dixon	3	0	21
CB Brian Marvin	3	0	17
ILB Don Graham	1	1	17
CB Quintin Jones	1	1	16
S Rich Johnson	1	1	14
OLB Alex Moyer	1	0	17
OLB Scott Burman	1	0	11
ILB Hardy Nickerson	1	0	8
DE Reggie Rogers	1	0	14
CB Jarvis Williams	1	0	12

Blocking Statistics

Carolina	KeyBl	BlOpp	Panc	RPly	SckA	PPly
Dave Lutz	4	6	0	40	0	25
Keith Uecker	3	9	0	35	1	23
Mike Baab	3	5	0	39	0	24
Dennis Bligen	2	5	1	34	0	20
Marsharne Graves	2	4	0	34	0	22
Billy Griggs	2	3	0	37	0	19
Stefan Humpries	1	5	0	34	0	18
Tom Baugh	1	3	0	11	1	10
Terry Tausch	1	1	0	8	0	4
Dan McQuaid	0	1	0	9	0	4

Atlanta	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Wesly Whitehead	2	2	16	0	33
Dermontti Dawson	1	2	16	0	35
Gerald Bennett	1	2	11	0	26
Jeff Criswell	0	3	14	1	32
Bill Monger	0	3	7	0	23
Houston Hoover	0	2	14	1	35
Ickey Woods	0	1	9	0	24

Special Teams Tackles

Carolina	Tackles	STPlays
David Grayson	1	23
Phil Freeman	1	15
Wayne Davis	1	9

Atlanta	Tackles	STPlays
Robert Lavette	2	17
Glen Kozlowski	1	12

Participation

Carolina	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Bill Kenney	42	26	---	---	---	68
Dennis Bligen	34	20	---	---	13	67
Carlton Williamson	---	---	15	39	11	65
Mike Baab	39	24	---	---	2	65
Dave Lutz	40	25	---	---	---	65
Keith Uecker	35	23	---	---	6	64
Trey Junkin	33	17	---	---	14	64
Billy Griggs	37	19	---	---	7	63
Marsharne Graves	34	22	---	---	---	56
Stefan Humpries	34	18	---	---	4	56
John Stephens	35	20	---	---	1	56
John Rade	---	---	14	37	4	55
Solomon Wilcots	---	---	15	34	3	52
Doug Donley	21	15	---	---	14	50
Sean Jones	---	---	13	33	1	47
Gary Plummer	---	---	13	32	2	47
William Judson	---	---	6	23	16	45
Mark Studaway	---	---	12	26	7	45
Perry Williams	---	---	15	27	2	44
Harvey Clayton	---	---	9	30	4	43
Bobby Watkins	---	---	15	25	---	40
Craig Shaffer	---	---	14	22	3	39
Herman Heard	12	7	---	---	20	39
Jeff Wright	---	---	12	20	6	38
David Grayson	---	---	3	5	23	31
Stephen Baker	17	11	---	---	2	30
Carlos Carson	15	13	---	---	---	28
Mark Shumate	---	---	5	21	1	27
Tom Baugh	11	10	---	---	6	27
Jackie Shipp	---	---	4	17	3	24
Wayne Davis	---	---	5	9	9	23
Bruce Smith	---	---	5	15	---	20
Phil Freeman	1	3	---	---	15	19
Dan McQuaid	9	4	---	---	6	19
Dante Jones	---	---	2	14	3	19
Terry Tausch	8	4	---	---	6	18
Cornell Burbage	0	0	---	---	14	14
Greg Meisner	---	---	4	8	1	13
Byron Franklin	5	5	---	---	---	10
Barney Bussey	---	---	3	7	---	10
Lemuel Stinson	---	---	3	7	---	10
Max Zendejas	0	0	---	---	6	6
Luke Prestridge	0	0	---	---	5	5
Mike Howard	0	0	---	---	1	1
John Lee	0	0	---	---	1	1
Thomas Magnum	0	0	---	---	---	0

Atlanta	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Rickey Dixon	---	---	36	21	11	68
Terry Wright	---	---	28	23	9	60
Chris Chandler	17	41	---	---	---	58
Scott Schwedes	14	31	---	---	11	56
Wesly Whitehead	16	33	---	---	7	56
Dermontti Dawson	16	35	---	---	4	55
Reggie Sutton	---	---	29	15	10	54
Ravin Caldwell	---	---	21	12	20	53
Jeff Criswell	14	32	---	---	7	53
Don Graham	---	---	31	17	1	49
Houston Hoover	14	35	---	---	---	49
Glen Kozlowski	10	24	---	---	12	46
Brett Faryniarz	---	---	29	16	1	46
Brian Marvin	---	---	29	17	---	46
Quintin Jones	---	---	28	16	1	45
Jarvis Williams	---	---	28	12	4	44
Gerald Bennett	11	26	---	---	4	41
Ickey Woods	9	24	---	---	7	40
Reggie Rogers	---	---	24	14	1	39
Flip Johnson	6	19	---	---	14	39
Curtis Maxie	---	---	24	14	1	39
Mickey Mestnik	---	---	24	12	1	37
Don Fielder	---	---	18	12	6	36
Robert Lavette	3	16	---	---	17	36
Scott Burman	---	---	18	11	7	36
Don Panos	7	21	---	---	7	35
Rich Johnson	---	---	19	14	2	35
Deangelo Hall	---	---	20	14	1	35
Steve Hamilton	---	---	18	12	4	34
Dwight Stone	7	24	---	---	3	34
Ferrell Edmunds	11	22	---	---	---	33
Alex Moyer	---	---	15	17	---	32
Jamie Mueller	5	12	---	---	13	30
Bill Monger	7	23	---	---	---	30
Thurman Thomas	10	19	---	---	---	29
Hardy Nickerson	---	---	12	8	3	23
Brian Kinchen	7	11	---	---	5	23
Ken Rose	---	---	11	9	---	20
Thornton Chandler	2	0	---	---	16	18
Tommie Agee	1	3	---	---	9	13
Derek Tennell	0	0	---	---	11	11
Sean Landeta	0	0	---	---	7	7
Steve De Line	0	0	---	---	5	5
Sean Salisbury	0	0	---	---	---	0
Unknown	---	---	0	0	---	0
Unknown	---	---	0	0	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	16	92	5.8
Middle	11	47	4.3
Right	15	92	6.1
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	2	10	5.0
Middle	10	41	4.1
Right	5	11	2.2
None	0	0	0.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

Carolina	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Bill Kenney	24	17	3	1	1	3	1	0	0

Atlanta	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Chris Chandler	39	22	3	2	2	2	8	4	1

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	2	2	-1	-0.5
Short (0-8 Yds)	8	7	49	6.1
Medium (9-18 Yds)	9	6	96	10.7
Long (19+ Yds)	5	2	77	15.4

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	5	2	14	2.8
Short (0-8 Yds)	16	11	96	6.0
Medium (9-18 Yds)	13	6	52	4.0
Long (19+ Yds)	5	3	96	19.2

Detailed Receiving Statistics

Carolina	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Doug Donley	7	4	0	47	0	15
WR Stephen Baker	5	3	1	82	2	11
FB Dennis Bligen	3	2	0	-1	0	20
WR Carlos Carson	2	2	0	22	0	13
WR Byron Franklin	2	2	0	41	1	5
TE Trey Junkin	2	2	0	10	0	17
TE Billy Griggs	2	2	0	20	0	19
WR Phil Freeman	1	0	0	0	0	3

Atlanta	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Dwight Stone	9	2	0	21	0	24
RB Thurman Thomas	7	4	0	27	0	19
WR Glen Kozlowski	6	3	1	54	1	24
WR Scott Schwedes	6	4	1	59	1	31
WR Flip Johnson	5	5	0	60	1	19
RB Robert Lavette	2	1	0	15	0	16
TE Brian Kinchen	2	2	0	18	0	11
RB Jamie Mueller	1	0	0	0	0	12
TE Ferrell Edmunds	1	1	0	4	0	22

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

Carolina	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
John Stephens	8	19	2.38	5.91
Herman Heard	2	8	4.00	3.75

Atlanta	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

Carolina	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Bill Kenney	3	3	31	10.33	9.21

Atlanta	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Chris Chandler	5	3	19	3.80	6.62

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

Carolina	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Carlos Carson	1	1	12	12.00	11.00
WR Doug Donley	1	1	14	14.00	6.71
WR Stephen Baker	1	1	5	5.00	16.40

Atlanta	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Scott Schwedes	2	1	3	1.50	9.83
RB Thurman Thomas	2	1	7	3.50	3.86
TE Brian Kinchen	1	1	9	9.00	9.00

Third Down Rushing Statistics

Carolina	Rushes	Conversions
John Stephens	5	4
Herman Heard	2	1

Atlanta	Rushes	Conversions
Thurman Thomas	3	2
Chris Chandler	1	0

Third Down Passing Statistics

Carolina	Att	Comp	Conversions
Bill Kenney	7	4	3

Atlanta	Att	Comp	Conversions
Chris Chandler	8	7	4

Third Down Receiving Statistics

Carolina	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Doug Donley	2	0	0
WR Byron Franklin	2	2	2
WR Carlos Carson	1	1	1
FB Dennis Bligen	1	1	0
WR Stephen Baker	1	0	0

Atlanta	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Glen Kozlowski	3	2	2
WR Flip Johnson	2	2	0
TE Brian Kinchen	2	2	2
WR Scott Schwedes	1	1	0

Section Attendance
Stadium 67,600 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck 16,700 (17,100)
End Zone 12,100 (12,400)
Mezzanine 6,900 (7,100)
Sideline Seats 10,600 (10,900)
Club Seats 14,700 (15,000)
Luxury Boxes 6,600 (7,500)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	67,600 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck	16,700 (17,100)
End Zone	12,100 (12,400)
Mezzanine	6,900 (7,100)
Sideline Seats	10,600 (10,900)
Club Seats	14,700 (15,000)
Luxury Boxes	6,600 (7,500)