CHARLOTTE Blue Kawann Short Jersey , N.C. (AP) — the Panthers‘ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Falcons that the jokes began rolling in.Panthers center Ryan Kalil laughed that he might have to bring down his shotgun snaps so they don’t go flying over the 6-foot QB’s head. Running back Christian McCaffrey teased that he’s glad he won’t look so small in the backfield anymore now that Heinicke has taken over for the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Cam Newton.Heinicke laughs at the remarks, pointing out that he’s the same size as Russell Wilson and Drew Brees.“I want to emulate those guys,” Heinicke said.Heinicke makes his first career start over Newton, who was shut down by the team earlier this week because of a lingering right shoulder problem that made it nearly impossible for him to throw the ball more than 15 yards down the field.The Panthers have completed only nine passes of longer than 20 yards this season and three times have subbed in Heinicke to throw Hail Mary passes because Newton lacked the arm strength to handle the task.But that doesn’t mean the Panthers will be changing much up on offense this week against the Falcons.“I don’t know if in one or two games you see that being a whole lot different,” Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner said. “If the opportunities are there, he is capable of getting the ball down the field.”While Heinicke has been in the league since 2015, he has only attempted five passes.Still, the Panthers like his potential, which is why they let veteran Derek Anderson walk in free agency last offseason.Heinicke has been in Turner’s system three years Womens Christian Miller Jersey , including two with the Vikings as a backup in 2016 and 2017. When he was signed this offseason, he spent a lot of time teaching other players the playbook.He has also taken the bulk of the reps in practice this past month with Newton mostly resting the shoulder between games.“I think guys are excited to see what he is capable of doing for us,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “I think he wants to prove a lot of the people who believed in him right.”The game itself doesn’t have much meaning with the Falcons (5-9) already eliminated from playoff contention and the Panthers (6-8) hanging on by a thread as the result of an ongoing six-game losing streak.Here are other things to know about the Falcons-Panthers matchup:CATCHING ONThere haven’t been many bright spots on a Falcons offense decimated by injuries to both starting guards and running back Devonta Freeman, but quarterback Matt Ryan sees hope in the wide receivers working behind veterans Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu.Rookie Calvin Ridley leads the team with eight touchdown catches and is second with 56 receptions. Ryan also noted progress made by Russell Gage, who had two catches last week, and Marvin Hall.“The young guys’ improvement and development have been a bonus for us,” Ryan said.100 WINSRyan is the 12th quarterback to win 100 games with one team since the AFL-NFL merger.He won his 100th with the Falcons last week, leaving him tied with Joe Montana for the 11th-most wins with one team during that span.INSULT TO INJURYIt’s bad enough the Falcons are 5-9 after back-to-back playoff appearances, including a spot in the Super Bowl after the 2016 season. It’s worse they have to watch other teams play in their home stadium — and practice at their facility — for the Super Bowl. Coach Dan Quinn had a grim response when told the NFC Super Bowl team — possibly the rivalSaints— will practice at the Falcons’ facility in Flowery Branch.“I guess I’m most disappointed we won’t be the ones playing and practicing at our site,” he said before walking out Color Rush Christian Miller Jersey , ending the Thursday news conference.THE LAST DANCEWith the Panthers have collapsing the way they have and the roster starting to grow old, this could be the last home game for a few popular veteran players who have spent most or all of their careers in Carolina.Center Ryan Kalil has already said he is retiring after the season, while linebacker Thomas Davis and defensive end Julius Peppers are working on expiring contracts. Tight end Greg Olsen’s future is also up in the air after missing large portions of the last two seasons with a broken foot, and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and is a potential salary cap casualty.Rivera said he’d like all of his veterans back, but those aren’t his decisions to make.REPLACING THOMPSON, GANOThe Panthers placed outside linebacker Shaq Thompson and kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve this week with their playoff hopes all but over.Jermaine Carter will get a shot to play in Thompson’s spot, and Chandler Catanzaro will continue to handle kicking duties for the Panthers as he’s done the previous two weeks. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers ruined the Philadelphia Eagles‘ dance party.Newton tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen with 1:22 left and the Panthers overcame a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Eagles 21-17 on Sunday.Julius Peppers sacked Carson Wentz, forcing a fumble on fourth down from the Panthers 14 to seal the victory.The Panthers improved to 4-2 with the biggest comeback in franchise history. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles fell to 3-4.“This place was as advertised, playing in a hostile environment but we overcame that and kept pushing through,” Newton said. “Good teams have to win on the road and win close games and we did that.”After Carolina took the lead Blue Donte Jackson Jersey , the Eagles started at their 30. A 48-yard pass interference penalty on James Bradberry against Alshon Jeffery put the ball at the Carolina 22. Eric Reid appeared to intercept Wentz’s overthrown pass but the play was overturned on a video review. Wentz threw incomplete to Jeffery in the end zone on third-and-2 and was stripped on the next play.“Pressure is off,” Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. “Nobody thinks we can do anything. A lot of football left.”Down 17-0, the Panthers watched a couple of members of Philadelphia’s kickoff team do a choreographed dance while others celebrated as if the game was over during an extended break before the ball was placed on the field.Then the Panthers started their rally when Curtis Samuel ran in from the 14 on a reverse but Graham Gano missed the extra point.“We collectively got together and knew that we had to up the tempo and have a sense of urgency,” said Christian McCaffrey, who had 80 yards from scrimmage.Newton then quickly drove the Panthers 87 yards, tossing an 18-yard pass to Devin Funchess. He connected with Jarius Wright on the 2-point conversion to get Carolina within a field goal with 4:08 left.The Panthers forced a three-and-out and got the ball at their 31 with 2:17 remaining.Newton threw three straight incomplete passes, but took a hit on fourth down and still completed a 35-yard catch-and-run pass to Torrey Smith to reach the Philadelphia 34. A 22-yard pass to McCaffrey gave Carolina first down at the 4. Newton ran it to the 1, setting up third down. He threw it to Olsen wide open in the back of the end zone.Newton finished 25 of 39 for 269 yards and ran for 49 yards.“I took that one extremely personal,” Newton said of a 23-17 loss at Washington last week. “I told myself if we get in that position I have to hold up my end. I didn’t want to let anybody down.”Wentz’s 11-yard TD pass to Jeffery gave Philadelphia a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Ertz had catches of 15 and 22 yards on the drive and Jeffery hauled in a 20-yard pass before the score.Jeffery and his teammates had a unique celebration. He placed the ball on the ground and pretended to do a free kick.Wentz tossed a 1-yard TD to Dallas Goedert to make it 17-0 in the third quarter, finishing off a 17-play Donte Jackson Jersey 2019 , 94-yard drive that chewed up 9:22 on the clock.DO OVERSGano made a 39-yard field goal that was nullified by a false start. He missed from 44 yards, but another false start allowed the Panthers to try again and they punted.NOT GETTING ALONGReid and Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins exchanged words and were separated before the coin toss. The two men have history going back to last year when Reid left The Players Coalition, which was co-founded by Jenkins. Reid and Jenkins are both fighting for the same cause — social and racial injustice — but have disagreed over how to do it. Reid recently called the coalition “an NFL funded subversion group” and he strongly supports his friend, Colin Kaepernick.Reid also got into it with Ertz after tackling Wentz following a handoff in the first quarter. Both guys received personal foul penalties.REID KNEELSReid again took a knee during the national anthem. He’s been doing it since Kaepernick, his former teammate on the 49ers, began taking a stance in 2016.INJURIESPanthers: DE Mario Addison twice left the game with a back injury and didn’t return after going out in the fourth quarter.Eagles: RB Darren Sproles (hamstring), CB Sidney Jones (hamstring), DT Haloti Ngata (calf) and S Corey Graham (hamstring) were among the key players out of the lineup.UP NEXTPanthers: Host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.Eagles: Play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday.