Atlanta, Georgia (AP)--

Ed Hartwell takes down Jake Delhomme after the pass.

A lot has changes since the first week of the regular season for the Atlanta Falcons. After losing the Carolina Panthers in their regular season opener, people began to question the Falcons as if they were a team that could contend for a playoff spot. However, four months later the Falcons have undergone a complete turnaround and become one of the NFL’s elite teams with a shot at the Superbowl.
The turnaround was completed as the Falcons got revenge for the week 1 loss by defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-14 at the Georgia Dome. The win for the Falcons was made even more sweeter, as they not only clinched the NFC South title for the second time in the last three years, but also eliminated the Panthers, perennial Superbowl contenders at seasons start, from playoff contention.
After being snubbed of a spot on the Pro Bowl roster, Michael Vick came out with a motive with something prove, as he led the Falcons with 213 yards passing and two touchdowns as well as 58 yards on the ground. With the Falcons trailing 14-13 late in the forth quarter, it was Vick again who led the Falcons on another momentous drive which ended in the touchdown pass to Roddy White, giving the Falcons the lead which they would never surrender. Vick continued to show his great maturity as a passer, completing 71% of his passes to 9 different receivers, with Alge Crumpler leading the way with 5 receptions for 66 yards.
Before the game the Panthers were given a physiological boost, as their star wide our Steve Smith returned after missing the last five games with an injury. Smith caught 5 passes for 44 yards in his return, but was shut down in the second half, as his fierce rival and friend DeAngelo Hall would get the last laugh.
The Falcons would strike first midway through the first quarter as Vick would get into an early groove hooking up with Michael Jenkins and Jerome Pathon for big completions in a drive where he didn’t throw an incompletion. Vick would eventually find Crumpler from five yards out to give the Falcons the 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter the Falcons would add to their lead. After a pass interference penalty on Ken Lucas on third down kept the Falcons drive alive and prevented the Panthers at a shot of getting great field position, Vick would master another long drive, this one of 13 plays, but it would stall and Michael Koenen would have hit on a 44 yarder to add to the Falcons lead, 10-0.

Alge Crumpler grabs the pass in front of Mike Minter for the touchdown.

For the opening 20 minutes of the game, the Falcons were flawless, despite losing linebacker Michael Boley to an injury. Jake Delhomme would struggle completing passes, and was picked off by Lawyer Milloy following the Koenen field goal, to add to the Panthers struggles.
It wasn’t until the final two minutes of the first half when Delhomme finally started to find receivers. An effective two minute drill by Delhomme, which included long completions to Kris Mangum and Smith, would give the Panthers their first point of the afternoon. Delhomme found Keary Colbert for a 22 yard catch and score, after Jason Webster, who role in continually diminishing missed an open field tackles, which could have saved the 7 points.
The Falcons led at halftime 10-7, after flawless play from Vick, despite getting little support by Warrick Dunn in the rushing game, and for the most part a strong defensive outing.
The game took a big change early in the second half, as the Panthers would take their first lead of the game. In the first possession of the third quarter Deshaun Foster, who had minimal success running the football in the first half, took his first carry in the second half off tackles where he would use good blocking and his speed to get into the endzone for a 52 yard touchdown score. After dominating the Panthers throughout the first half, two quick scores to end the first half and begin the second half gave the Panthers a 14-10 lead.
Playing from behind, Vick was just as good, if not better, than when his team was leading. Vick would set the Falcons off to another long drive, this time using short passes to pick up first downs, while Dunn would continue to try and break off big runs into the Panthers secondary. However, once again with the ball in the redzone, the drive stalled and Koenen was forced to make another field goal, this time from 32 yards to make the score 14-13, still in favor of the Panthers.
After both teams defense dominated the closing stages of the third quarter and the majority of the forth quarter, Vick was given one last chance to try and put the Falcons back in front.
Vick would do what he does best, completing short passes, to receivers, while also using his scrambling ability to leave the Panthers defense on their toes, unaware of how to stop the favorite for the MVP award this season. Vick would go 5/6 for 62 yards on the drive, which ended with a bullet pass to Roddy White in the endzone from 6 yards out to put the Falcons, back in front. Deciding to go for two point conversion, Vick would run in the football in a race to the pylon with defensive end Mike Rucker.

Vick celebrates the victory and the NFC South crown with the home fans.

The Panthers were given 3:24 to work with and try and tie the game and force overtime. However, Delhomme would fall unsuccessful as four straight passes fell short of the first down, causing a turnover on downs. The Falcons would then use a wide mixture of Vick and Dunn, as well as Jerious Norwood and Justin Griffith to effectively run the football and kill clock, propelling the Falcons to the 24-14 win.
Besides clinching the NFC South title, the Falcons also clinched a first round playoff bye, after the Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Dallas Cowboys. The Falcons will travel to the Philadelphia to play the Eagles in a possible playoff preview. This will be the Falcons first time in the Keystone State since their 2004 defeat in the NFC Championship Game. Knowing that a shot at clinching home field advantage in the playoffs is at stake, the Falcons will be expected to play Vick and the starters for all four quarters.

Game Boxscore.