Falcons up 10-0 early and rolling

The Falcons have come out like a team possessed in this game, gaining at least 70 yards on each of their first 2 drives and taking a quick 10-0 lead.

QB Matt Ryan already looks so much better than he did in Carolina's 24-9 win in late September. He's already led the Falcons to more points in those 2 marches than he did in the entire game, coolly moving the ball to the open receiver.

Carolina has hurt itself by jumping offsides (twice), missing a couple of tackles and not being able to stay with Atlanta's fine WR Roddy White deep. The Falcons also had a great call on third-and-3 from Carolina's 7, when they showed an empty backfield, but then motioned barely-used Harry Douglas into the backfield and pitched him the ball.

Douglas tiptoed in for his first NFL TD and it was 10-0. Carolina has gone 3-and-out on each of its first 2 offensive possessions, with Jake Delhomme throwing an incompletion on one third down and getting sacked on the other.

Atlanta just ran the second punt of Jason Baker back inside the Carolina 40. If the Panthers aren't careful, they're going to get blown out. This game has had all the earmarks of that in its first 11 minutes.