ATLANTA - Coach Ron Rivera and the Carolina Panthers are headed back to the playoffs. Custom Washington Nationals Jerseys .Owner Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons could be preparing to hire a new head coach.In a winner-take-all regular season finale, the Panthers easily beat the Falcons 34-3 to win the weak NFC South on Sunday.The victory gave Carolina (7-8-1) a division title for a second straight year, a first-time achievement for the franchise, as the Panthers prepare to host Arizona in a wild-card playoff game on Saturday.Atlanta (6-10) has collapsed since nearly winning the NFC title game two years ago. The Falcons, losers in 22 of their last 32 games, could have different leadership in the next few days if Blank fires Smith in the next day or so.Though Smith won two division titles and made four playoff appearances in his first five years, those achievements werent enough to prevent Atlantas collapse over the last two seasons.If he is fired, Smith will leave as the winningest coach in the Falcons 49-year history.Smith said he never saw Sundays horrible performance coming after what he thought was a good week of practice and game-planning.It sends a signal to me that I didnt get the job done, Smith said. Im the one thats held responsible for it.A few things to consider for both teams:WHATS NEXT: While Blank decides what to do with Smith, Rivera will have his team back at work preparing for Arizona.Despite being 3-8-1 following a lopsided loss at Minnesota on Nov. 30, Carolina rallied while division rivals Atlanta and New Orleans fell apart.Our guys are the kind of guys that we want, Rivera said, and I just felt if we kept playing and kept taking care of our business that we would get that opportunity.EVEN KEEL: To avoid a letdown against the Cardinals, linebacker Thomas Davis wants everyone in the Carolina locker room to remember how empty it felt to lose at home in the playoffs last year to San Francisco.We hosted a playoff game last year and didnt fare well, Davis said. We understand that as a team. Were going to remain focused, and we have to make sure we do a good job of making sure that we take care of business at home.MIX EM UP: Falcons receiver Roddy White said the offence was surprised by the zone coverage Carolina deployed and was disappointed that Atlanta never seemed to adjust.They mixed up a bunch of different coverages and didnt play a whole lot of man coverages, White said. They dropped eight, they dropped seven and they rallied to the ball. They did a good job of that and kind of confused us early in the game that we werent prepared for.YOUNG AND TOUGH: The Panthers, who started a franchise-record seven rookies on both sides of the line in last Sundays home win over Cleveland, got a boost defensively from rookie starters Bene Benwikere and Tre Boston and reserves Adarius Glanton and Kony Ealy.The foursome combined for 10 solo tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one pass breakup.Said Boston, who picked off Matt Ryans pass to Harry Douglas and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the third quarter, I think it was our best overall defensive game that we played this season. From seven, back seven, we just all did our jobs. Were coached to play to our potential.LONG, HARD FALL: Ryan wanted to win the game and the division, not just for Smith, but for everybody on the team.I think it was about everyone in our organization, Ryan said. I think when we came into this game, it wasnt just about Mike. It was about us as a team. We wanted to continue to play and we felt like we had the right team to do that.BY THE NUMBERS: Rivera improved his career December record to 15-3 since 2011. ... The Falcons dropped to 5-1 against the NFC South. They went 1-9 outside the division. ... Panthers QB Cam Newton has averaged 7.7 yards per carry in 60 career rushing attempts against Atlanta. Newton was Carolinas leading rusher with 51 yards. The team finished with 194 to just 63 for Atlanta.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Adam Eaton Jersey . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66. Howie Kendrick Jersey . The 36-year-old Colts receiver is going back to the playoffs as a division champion. http://www.baseballnationalsauthority.com/Bryce-Harper-Jersey/ . Listen to the Raptors vs. Jazz live tonight on TSN Radio 1050 at 9pm et/6pm pt. The Raptors are 1-1 so far on the five-game junket after defeating Denver and losing to Portland.Eric Black will take charge of his first full training session in charge of Aston Villa on Friday, Sky Sports News HQ understands. Scotsman Black, who managed Motherwell and Coventry in the early 2000s, has been installed as caretaker manager following the departure of manager Remi Garde - after only 147 days in charge - on Tuesday.Black is expected to be assisted by Robert Duverne, Gardes fitness coach who remains with the club, and goalkeeping coach Phil Parkes. However, it is understood that under-21s coach Kevin MacDonald, who had two separate spells as Villa caretaker boss - in 2013 and again earlier this season - will not be involved in the running of first-team affairs.Villa are bottom of the Premier League, with only 16 points from 31 games. That record leaves them with just seven games left to claw back a 12-point deficit from safety. Remi Garde was sacked on Tuesday after just over four months in charge Blacks first game in charge will be Saturdays clash with Chelsea. Matt Wieters Jersey. It is understood that Black has already met some of the players, but will address them all on Friday once the full squad is back from the international break.He will also face the media for the first time on Friday, with news throughout the day on Sky Sports News HQ.Meanwhile, Villa No 2 Reginald Ray left the club on Thursday after his compensation package was agreed.The former Bastia coach was brought in by Garde last year but, with Black in caretaker charge, he has cut ties with the strugglers. Also See: Garde was sacrificial lamb Pearson, Moyes in Villa frame Mersons predictions Who will be the next Villa boss? 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