Panthers at Falcons

4:15 P.M. * WRAZ, WFXI * WRBZ-850, WZTK-101.1

3 THINGS TO WATCH

PANTHERS' OFFENSIVE BALANCE? This might be an ideal time for the Panthers to show that they can be equally as effective through the air as on the ground. The Falcons' defense, knowing that Jake Delhomme struggled two weeks ago in Oakland and didn't throw much last week against Detroit, will likely focus on the Panthers' potent running game. That would give Delhomme a chance to get that stroke back (he threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons in September).

SHUTTING DOWN THE RUN - AGAIN: Entering in the teams' first game in Charlotte, the Falcons were leading the league in rushing with 203 yards per game. The Panthers shut down Michael Turner (56 yards) and held the Falcons to 118 yards total. The Falcons are still a run-first team, averaging 153.4 yards per game, second in the league.

FEW HAPPY RETURNS: Don't look for much in the way of excitement on punt returns today. Atlanta and Carolina have two of the league's best punt-coverage teams. Atlanta allows a minuscule 1.4 yards per return (easily the best in the league and the Panthers' 4.9-yard average is third.

KEY TO THE GAME

MAAKE KEMOEATU

PANTHERS DT

In the Panthers' new, simplified defensive scheme, Kemoeatu acts almost as a nose guard on running plays. He pushes offensive linemen out of the way, clearing the way for linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis to make tackles.

Kemoeatu has 29 tackles this season, none more important than the fumble he forced by Arizona's Edgerinn James, leading to a tie-breaking touchdown on the Panthers' next possession and helping Carolina to a 27-23 victory.

TODD McCLURE

FALCONS CENTER

He anchors an offensive line that paves the way for the league's second-best running game (153.4 yards per game). Running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood are the main beneficiaries.

Kemoeatu will likely be McClure's first priority on most running plays. McClure has also been effective in pass protection: Quarterback Matt Ryan hasn't been sacked in two consecutive games.

PANTHERS INSIDER

Today's game includes two dominant defensive ends: Carolina's Julius Peppers and Atlanta's John Abraham. They've got more in common than just their Carolinas roots (Peppers is from Bailey and attended North Carolina; Abraham is from Timmonsville, S.C., and went to South Carolina).

They are the only defensive ends among the top six sack leaders and they're both so disruptive that, while they might start on one side of the defensive line in their teams' 4-3 defenses, they switch around on certain plays, which can cause havoc with an offense trying to find them before the ball is snapped. Abraham's 11.0 sacks are tied for third in the NFL.

He's also forced three fumbles. Peppers, starting at right end for the first time in his career, has 9.0 sacks (sixth in the league) and his five forced fumbles lead the league.

KEY STATS

PANTHERS

3 Straight victories in Georgia Dome.

4 Jonathan Stewart's ranking among rookie running backs (513 yards, tied with Detroit's Kevin Smith)

19 Touchbacks by kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd, leading the league.

34.9 Percent third-down efficiency (27th in NFL).

75.0 Percent scoring conversion rate allowed by defense in red zone (third in NFL).

FALCONS

6.5 Tackles for loss (not including sacks) by defensive end Jonathan Babineaux (tied for third in NFL).

14 Consecutive made field goals from 40-49 yards by Jason Elam.

9-4 Record in Georgia Dome against Panthers.

30 Consecutive games with at least one pass caught by receiver Roddy White.

282 Consecutive carries without a fumble by running back Michael Turner.