Falcons’ Dwight Starts to Catch On

Instead of taking the blame for another Atlanta loss, Tim Dwight played a big part in a rare Falcon victory Sunday.

Dwight caught two touchdown passes from Chris Chandler, and the NFC champions won for the first time in Atlanta this season, holding off the Carolina Panthers, 27-20.

The Falcons (2-6) were coming off a dismal effort in a 13-9 loss at Pittsburgh on Monday night that ended for them at the Steeler 5. On the final play of that game, Dwight didn’t run the proper route, and a Chandler pass sailed behind the receiver in the end zone.

“I’m still learning,” said Dwight, hardly the prototype receiver at 5 feet 8 and making only his second NFL start. “Any time you have a chance to win, it sits in your belly a little bit. But I let that go on Thursday. I just came in here and tried to play well.”

His first touchdown catch of the day, and second of his career, came on a 35-yard scoring play late in the first quarter--giving Atlanta its first lead in three weeks. His second touchdown catch, a four-yard play, came on the first play of the final quarter.

“Tim did a good job of route-running,” said Chandler, who was 14 for 21 for 201 yards. “Tim has a chance to be a good receiver.”

Atlanta twice built 14-point leads before Carolina quarterback Steve Beuerlein scored on a one-yard sneak with 3:06 remaining.

The Panthers (2-5) got the ball back at their own 29 with 15 seconds left, but Gerald McBurrows came up with his team’s third interception against Beuerlein. That sealed the Falcon victory and a miserable day for the Carolina quarterback, who also lost two fumbles to account for all five turnovers by his team.

“I’ve never been responsible for five turnovers in my life,” said Beuerlein, who was 21 for 35 for 256 yards. “Today, it happened. I didn’t play nearly as well as I should have for us to have a chance to win.”

The Falcons, who had the NFL’s worst turnover ratio at minus-11, played a turnover-free game.

Atlanta also held Carolina to 63 rushing yards.