Falcons (2-8) at Panthers (4-6)
8:20 p.m. ET, ESPN
Line: Panthers by 5
Preview | War Room preview | Baxter's bits
Joe Theismann's Sunday night spotlight
Inside the Playbook: Chris Chandler's sprint bomb

	Panthers receiver Muhsin Muhammad is having an outstanding season.

Why to watch:
This NFC West clash appears to feature two teams headed in opposite directions. The Panthers have won two of their last three games and look like they're improving under coach George Seifert. The Falcons have followed up their Super Bowl run with a nightmare season that has been plagued by injuries and close losses. Atlanta appeared on the verge of victory last week at Tampa Bay, when an interception sealed its fourth loss in five games.

The Falcons won the first meeting 27-20 at the Georgia Dome in Week 8. In that victory, Falcons QB Chris Chandler threw two TD passes, while Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein made five turnovers, including three interceptions.

Who to watch:
Carolina has some serious young talent on offense. RB Tim Biakabutuka returned from an ankle injury last week and provided an immediate spark for the offense. The fourth-year back has rushed for 552 yards and five TDs in just seven games. Panthers RB Muhsin Muhammad ranks third in the NFL with 940 receiving yards on 63 catches. Panthers TE Wesley Walls has scored a team-high eight TDs and has caught 40 passes for 477 yards.

Still, Beuerlein remains the key to the offense. When he's accurate with his passes, the Panthers can be explosive. When he's off -- as he was in the first meeting with Atlanta -- Carolina doesn't look very good. The journeyman QB has thrown 16 TD passes and 12 interceptions while completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,582 yards.

Falcons WR Tim Dwight, who scored two TDs in the first game with Carolina, has become Atlanta's big-play threat. Falcons RBs Ken Oxendine and Byron Hanspard have both rushed for less than 300 yards on the season. Chandler has thrown just six TD passes with seven interceptions. Falcons CB Ray Buchanan helped limit Muhammad to five catches for 62 yards in the first meeting. He will be matched up with the big wideout again.

Falcons' numbers to know:
Atlanta is averaging just 71.1 rushing yards per game, while allowing 126.5 yards per contest on the ground. Both numbers are direct turnarounds from last season's Super Bowl campaign.

Panthers' numbers to know:
Carolina is 3-1 in games when Biakabutuka runs for at least 80 yards. They are 1-5 when he doesn't. Biakabutuka didn't play in the first meeting with Atlanta.

What it means:
Neither team is going to challenge the Rams for the NFC West title, but the Panthers aren't completely out of the playoff picture. Carolina plays four of its last six games at home and could climb within a game of the .500 mark here. As for Atlanta, the "Dirty Birds" are 0-2 in nationally televised games this year -- 0-3 if you count the Super Bowl. The Falcons would like to make some type of respectable showing in the prime-time spotlight.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Falcons' game plan:
Atlanta has struggled mightily. The Falcons really need to create some offense. Without Jamal Anderson, the Falcons can't line up and patiently drive 70 or 80 yards for a touchdown. Dan Reeves might have to resort to some gimmicks and trickery, using Dwight. The Falcons might even have to score a few times on special teams.

But it's all about Chandler for Atlanta. If Chandler is healthy and plays well, the Falcons always have a chance to win because their defensive personnel hasn't changed much. If Chandler doesn't play well, they have no chance. The Falcons have little speed on the perimeter. They might need Dwight, their fastest player, to work from the slot and catch slants. But because teams don't respect the Falcons' team speed, they might have to move the pocket and manufacture some deep routes to generate points.

Panthers game plan:
I like what the Panthers are doing offensively. Muhammad is having a Pro Bowl season, and Beuerlein is solid. He can be an accurate passer who controls the game. The team thrives on having Biakabutuka in the lineup. He can make things happen out of the backfield. When he is healthy, as he was Sunday, the Panthers have a versatile offense and a good chance to win.

Muhammad, Walls and Biakabutuka must get their touches for the Panthers to be successful. They are playing better offense than I expected this year. If Biakabutuka is running well, they should win. Special teams will be important for the Panthers offense to play with a short field.

Pivotal Players:
Atlanta's big-play personnel. The Falcons need some big plays from Terance Mathis, O.J. Santiago and Dwight. Special offensive plays must happen for the Falcons to get a positive outcome.