The Falcons finally found a way to hold on to a fourth-quarter lead as they edged the Panthers 25-17 on "Thursday Night Football."

The key for Atlanta was its defense. After giving up a pair of TDs to Curtis Samuel a 12-yard rush up the gut and a 29-yard grab on a flea flicker the dirty birds buckled down and held Carolina to just threepoints in the second half. The Falcons came up with fourth-down stops on the Panthers' last po se sion of the first half and first po se sion of the second half, and capped off a great night with a lateinterception in the red zone by Blidi Wreh-Wilson to seal the game.

Julio Jones was theoffensive standoutfor Atlanta. Sheldrick Redwine Jersey Carolinakept him out of the end zone, but the wide receiver still hauled in seven catches for 137 yards.

Matt Ryan finished the game completing 21-of-30 pa ses (70 percent) for 281 yards for the Falcons. He didn't have any touchdown pa ses, but he did have a surprise rushing score as he fooled the Carolina defense on a 13-yard scramble into the end zone midway through the third quarter to trim the Falcons' deficit to 14-13.

Koo hit a 36-yard field goalas time expired at the end of the first half to give Atlanta the 16-14 lead heading into the locker room. Koo went 4-for-4 on field goals, making another in the third quarter to give Atlanta a 19-14 lead.

Todd Gurley got the final score for the Falcons on a 3-yard TD Jarvis Landry Jersey in the fourth quarter. Atlanta then had a chance to make it a two-score game, but Koo mi sed the PAT, leaving the door open for Carolina.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, their offense lost its rhythm down the stretch, perhaps because Teddy Bridgewater was shaken up on a hit to the head by Charles Harris late in the third quarter. , and Bridgewater momentarily left the game.

The Panthers' QB had a perfect 158.3 pa ser rating in the first half, completing 7-of-9 pa ses for 100 yards and a TD. But in the Jaelen Strong Jersey second half he was only 8-of-14 for 76 yards and an interception. Most of those yards came on Carolina's final drive, as he was finally able to connect with wideout D.J. Moore for the first time the entire night on 13- and 42-yard completions. But his last throw ended up being his worst of the night as he threw it up for grabs.

The Falcons (2-6) are still at the bottom of the NFC South standings but creep a little bit closer, while the Panthers (3-5) drop their third-straight contest.

Sporting News trackedlive scoring updates and highlights from Falcons vs. Panthers on "." Follow below for complete results from the NFL Week 8game.

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Falcons vs. Panthers scoreQ1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final Falcons 6103625Panthers 773017Falcons vs. Pantherslive updates, highlights from 'Thursday Night Football'

11:25 p.m. FINAL: Falcons 25, Panthers 17.

11:24 p.m. INTERCEPTION. Bridgewater throws it up for grabs and Blidi Wreh-Wilson picks it off. That'll seal this one.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson seals the win for the !

NFL (@NFL)

11:21 p.m. HUGE THROW by Bridgewater on a 42-yard completion to D.J. Moore to get Carolina in Atlanta territory.

Teddy converts on 3rd and 17! : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

NFL (@NFL)

11:19 p.m. Timeout, Panthers. Bridgewater is sacked to bring up third down and 17 at the Carolina 25-yard line. Panthers have two timeouts left, 1:47 to play.

11:15 p.m. 2-minute Warning: Carolina has it, first and 10 at its 32-yard line.

11:12 p.m. Big play by Carolina to force Gurley out of bounds on third down and force a punt. Panthers have it at their 5-yard line, 2: Joe Thomas Jersey 58 to play.

10:59 p.m. Bridgewater comes back in the game but isn't able to get much going. Joseph Charlton lands a nice punt at the Atlanta 5-yard line, Falcons ball with 8:20 to play.

10:50 p.m. TOUCHDOWN, FALCONS. Todd Gurley punches it in from 3 yards out. Koo mi ses the PAT and Atlanta leads 25-17 with 11:01 remaining in regulation.

Todd Gurley with his league-leading 8th rushing TD of the season! : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

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10:43 p.m. END OF 3Q: Falcons 19, Panthers 17. Atlanta has it, first and 5 at the Carolina 43-yard line to start the fourth quarter.

10:37 p.m. FIELD GOAL, PANTHERS. Joey Slye connects from 39 yards to trim the deficit to 19-17 with 2:59 left in the third quarter.

10:35 p.m. Carolina gets a first down on third and seven after a tripping penalty and unnece sary roughne s penalty. P.J. Walker comes into the game for Bridgewater, who was hurt on the play.

Teddy Bridgewater got kicked and then took a shot to the neck/back area. Hes Terrance Mitchell Jersey in the medical tent now.

NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate)

10:29p.m. FAKE PUNT ALERT. Jeremy Chinn gets the snap as the up back and gains 28 yards for the first down at Atlanta's 40-yard line.

JEREMY CHINN ON THE FAKE PUNT. : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

NFL (@NFL)

10:22 p.m. FIELD GOAL, FALCONS. Koo hits from 29 yards out and Atlanta leads 19-14 with 6:22 left in the third quarter.

10:10 p.m. TURNOVER ON DOWNS. Close call for Carolina as a Mike Davis fumble is overturned and ruled an incomplete pa s. Panthers can't convert on third and 5 though and are stopped short on fourth down, Atlanta takes over at its 43- Jim Brown Jersey yard line, 11:32 left in the third quarter.

10:03 p.m. And we're back. Bridgewater leads Carolina out to start the second half.

9:47 p.m. HALF: Falcons 16, Panthers 14. Koo hits a 36-yard field goal as time expires to give Atlanta the lead heading into the locker room.

9:41p.m. 2-minute Warning: Falcons have it, second and 10 at the Panthers' 30-yard line.

9:37p.m. TURNOVER ON DOWNS. Carolina can't Anthony Zettel Jersey convert on fourth and 1 and Atlanta takes over at its 35-yard line with 3:55 left in the half.

9:27 p.m. TOUCHDOWN, FALCONS. Ryan fools the Carolina defense with a rare scramble for a 13-yard TD. Panthers' lead is cut to 14-13 with 8:02 remaining in the half.

MATTY ICE. : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

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9:11 p.m. TOUCHDOWN, PANTHERS. Carolina gets creative with the flea-flicker and Bridgewater throws it deep to Samuel for the 29-yard TD. Panthers lead 14-6 with 12:40 left in the first half.

. AGAIN.This time on the flea flicker from ! : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

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9:08 p.m. INTERCEPTION, PANTHERS. Matt Ryan is picked off by Donte Jackson on the first play of the ensuing Atlanta drive. Carolina takes over at Atlanta's 40-yard line.

Action Jackson with his third INT of the year! : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

NFL (@NFL Baker Mayfield Jersey )

9:03 p.m. END OF 1Q: Panthers 7, Falcons 6. Bridgewater is sacked on third down to end the quarter. Fourth and 21 at midfield, Carolina will likely punt to start the second quarter.

8:56p.m. FIELD GOAL, FALCONS. Another solid drive for Atlanta, but a sack on third down forces another field goal, this one from 37 yards to make it 7-6 in favor of Carolina with 2:36 left in the first quarter.

. with the key 3rd down sack. : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

NFL (@NFL)

Julio Jones is still cooking: four catches for 85 yards.

. racking up the yards: 4 catches, 85 yards.: on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

NFL (@NFL)

8:50 p.m. Timeout, Falcons. Atlanta uses its second timeout of the half to avoid a delay of game penalty. Third and 10, 4:44 left in the first quarter.

8:41 p.m. TOUCHDOWN, PANTHERS. Curtis Samuel carries it up the middle for a 12-yard TD and CArolina takes a 7-3 lead with 8:14 left in the first quarter.

Curtis Samuel up the middle for SIX! take Bernie Kosar Jersey the lead. : on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO:

NFL (@NFL)

8:28 p.m. FIELD GOAL, FALCONS. Todd Gurley comes up inches short of the line to gain on third down and Atlanta settles for a 20-yard field goal from Younghoe Koo to take a 3-0 lead with 11:14 left in the first quarter.

Falcons were able to get Julio Jones involved early, with two catches for 52 yards on the opening drive.

Julio Jones route makes the DB slip (via )

Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)

8:23 p.m.We're live! Matt Ryan leads the Falcons out for the opening po se sion.

( Updates will begin at 8:20 p.m. ET. )

'Thursday Night Football' start timeDate:Thursday, Oct. 29Kickoff time:8:20 p.m. ET

All Thursday night games throughout the 2020 NFL season will start at 8:20 p.m. ET, now with more TV options thanks to the addition of Fox to the broadcast in Week 8.

NFL Week 8schedule

Below is the complete schedule for Week 8of the 2020 NFL season.

Thursday, Oct. 29Game Time (ET) TV channel Falcons at Panthers 8:20 p.m. Fox, NFL Network, Sunday, Nov. 1Game Time (ET) TV channel Vikings at Packers1 p.m.Fox, Rams at Dolphins1 p.m.Fox, Raiders at Browns1 p.m.Fox, Steelers at Ravens1 p.m.CBS, Titans at Bengals1 p.m.CBS, Jets at Chiefs1 p.m.CBS, Colts at Lions1 p.m.CBS, Patriots at Bills1 p.m.CBS, Chargers at Broncos4:05 p.m.CBS, Saints at Bears4:25 p.m.Fox, 49ers at Seahawks4:25 p.m.Fox, Cowboys at Eagles8:20 p.m.NBC, Austin Seibert Jersey Monday, Nov. 2Game Time (ET) TV channel Buccaneers at Giants 8:15 p.m. ESPN,