The Atlanta Falcons missed the chance to move into top spot in the NFC South as interim Carolina Panthers head coach Steve Wilkes guided his side to a 25-15 victory on Thursday.
Panthers running back D'Onta Foreman starred with 31 carries for 130 yards in rainy conditions, including a third-quarter touchdown to complete a seven-play 84-yard drive at Bank of America Stadium.
The Falcons, who slipped to 4-6, were well beaten throughout, yet got within one score with 2:56 remaining in the fourth quarter when QB Marcus Mariota found a wide open KhaDarel Hodge to make it 22-15. Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo, who had made 71 consecutive extra points coming into the game, inexplicably missed the conversion, having spurned one earlier too.
Marquin Haynes sacked Mariota for the second time to end Atlanta's final drive, with Eddy Pineiro's 37-yard field goal padding out the margin.
Mariota made numerous unusual decisions throughout and was sacked five times. He completed 19 of 30 pass attempts for 186 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, linking up with rookie Drake London for a third-quarter TD after trailing 13-3 at half-time.
Laviska Shenault Jr scored the only first-half touchdown, exploding down the sideline on a 41-yard run after P.J. Walker's swing pass.
Walker, who was preferred to Baker Mayfield, completed 10 of 16 passes for 108 yards, highlighted by a 43-yarder to Terrace Marshall Jr, leading to Foreman's touchdown run in the third.
The win improved the Panthers to 3-7, with Wilks having presided over two wins from five games in interim charge.
Bobby Wagner clinches Seattle Seahawks return
Bobby Wagner has returned to the Seattle Seahawks one year after he was cut from the team.
The eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker spent last season with the Los Angeles Rams but has now returned to the Pacific Northwest after mutually agreeing to end his five-year contract with the Rams earlier this year.
Wagner was one of the top defensive players available in free agency, with murmurs of a return to the Seahawks being ever present since the period began.
Quandre Diggs, who had campaigned on social media for a reunion, broke the news of Wagner's return before it was later confirmed by the franchise.
"According to my sources future hall of famer LB Bobby Wagner has agreed to terms to return home to the Seattle Seahawks," he posted on Twitter.
"Seahawks fill a huge need in the middle of their defense. 12's rejoice!"
A Super Bowl winner with the Seahawks in his second year in the NFL, Wagner amassed nearly 1400 tackles and 23.5 sacks over 10 seasons.
His return continues a strong free agency period for the Seahawks, who had already bolstered their defense with the additions of defensive ends Dre-Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, LB Devin Bush and safety Julian Love.
Lane Johnson to 'retire an Eagle' after signing one-year extension with Philadelphia
Lane Johnson's goal is to retire as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, and he now looks destined to achieve that aim by signing a one-year extension.
The All-Pro right tackle inked an extension worth $33.445million, and includes $30m guaranteed.
It will keep the 32-year-old under contract through the 2026 season.
"My whole goal is to retire an Eagle," Johnson said on Friday.
"That's what I'm going to do. I'm just excited to be here, be as fortunate as I am to be with one team for as long as I have.
"I love this game and, more importantly, I love the people and the coaches that I'm with every day and that's why I love the game so much."
Johnson is a two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler who has started 127 games in a stellar career.
Having won Super Bowl LI with the Eagles in 2017, the 2013 fourth overall pick helped Philadelphia to Super Bowl LVII last season, where they lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 2022, his aggregate win rate across pass protection and run blocking of 78.26 per cent was ninth among all tackles, according to Stats Perform data.
Tom Brady invests in Las Vegas Aces
Tom Brady hopes investing in the Las Vegas Aces will help the WNBA "continue to do to grow" and "empower future generations of athletes."
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady has acquired an ownership interest in the world champion Aces.
The legendary former quarterback, who retired in February, jumped at the chance to be part of the organisation.
He said: "I am very excited to be part of the Las Vegas Aces organisation. My love for women's sports began at a young age when I would tag along to all my older sisters' games.
"They were by far the best athletes in our house! We celebrated their accomplishments together as a family, and they remain a great inspiration to me.
"I have always been a huge fan of women's sports, and I admire the work that the Aces' players, staff, and the WNBA continue to do to grow the sport and empower future generations of athletes.
"To be able to contribute in any way to that mission as a member of the Aces organisation is an incredible honour."
Aces owner Mark Davis said: "Since I purchased the Aces, our goal has been to win on and off the court. Tom Brady is a win not only for the Aces, and the WNBA, but for women's professional sports as a whole."
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