The Atlanta Falcons held on for their second win of the NFL season, beating the Carolina Panthers 25-17 on Thursday.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Todd Gurley rushed for Atlanta's two touchdowns at the Bank of America Stadium.

Ryan completed 21 of 30 passes for 281 yards and had an interception, while Gurley rushed for 46 yards on 18 carries.

Falcons star Julio Jones had seven receptions for 137 yards as Atlanta improved to 2-6 and the Panthers fell to 3-5 in the NFC South. Both teams are behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) and New Orleans Saints (4-2).

Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater went 15 of 23 for 176 yards with a TD and an interception.

The Falcons were held to two field goals in the first quarter, coming either side of Curtis Samuel getting through some soft defense to rush 12 yards through the middle for the opening TD.

Bridgewater connected with Samuel for 29 yards to give the Panthers a 14-6 lead early in the second quarter.

It meant Samuel had his third career game with a rushing TD and receiving TD. All other wide receivers in the Panthers' history have two such games combined.

Ryan found room for a 13-yard rushing TD before Koo Younghoe drilled his third field goal of the game to give the Falcons a half-time lead.

Gurley's league-leading eighth rushing TD of the season saw the Falcons grab a 25-17 lead in the fourth quarter after the teams traded field goals in the third.

Atlanta held onto that lead to stretch the Panthers' losing streak.