Unbeaten Falcons edge past Panthers
Regular referees were welcomed back to stadiums after they ratified a new eight-year contract with the league to end a lockout that began in June and saw replacement officials controversially handle games in the campaign’s first three weeks.
Atlanta’s Matt Ryan completed 25 of 40 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Falcons over visiting Carolina 30-28 on Sunday, but the Panthers did not fall until Matt Bryant’s 40-yard field goal with five seconds to play.
