CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Seven inches saved Atlanta's season and cost the Carolina Panthers a much-needed win. The Falcons stopped Carolina six inches from the goal line early in the game, then held the Panthers an inch short on a key fourth-down stop with under 2:00 to play Sunday. That preserved a 10-7 win over Carolina, handing the Panthers their 10th consecutive loss.

In a game of little offence, Atlanta (6-4) got just enough from fullback Bob Christian, a 39-yard field goal from Jay Feely, and more than enough defence to improve to 4-1 on the road. The Falcons beat the Panthers for the fourth straight time.

Christian, whose previous career best was 102 total yards in last week's win over Green Bay, combined for 122 against Carolina. He ran for 78 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and caught five passes for 44 yards.

The Panthers (1-10), already playing with shaky confidence, had their energy deflated in the second quarter when they failed to
capitalize on their best field position of the day. Atlanta kept them out of the end zone on four straight plays.

Chris Mohr's 24-yard punt gave Carolina the ball at the Atlanta 31-yard line, and the Panthers moved to the one-yard line on four
straight runs by Richard Huntley and Chris Weinke's 12-yard pass to Donald Hayes.

But Carolina couldn't go the last yard. Weinke threw an incomplete pass and three straight rushing attempts came up short.
Keith Brooking stopped Huntley on a left-side sweep on fourth down about six inches from the goal line to crush Carolina's confidence.

It was clear the failure affected the Panthers, who let Atlanta march 99 yards for a score.

On the third play of the drive, Christian broke free up the middle for a career-best 53-yard gain. He later scored on a
four-yard run to give the Falcons a 10-0 lead.

There was little offence for the next quarter and a half until the Panthers finally got a slight rhythm going.

Weinke and Huntley pulled off a perfect flea-flicker on a 25-yard completion to Isaac Byrd to move the ball to the Atlanta 15-yard
line. Weinke scored three plays later on a 12-yard keeper to make it 10-7 with 7:12 to play.

After a defensive stop, the Panthers were again driving when the Falcons came up with their game-saving stop. Weinke had an 11-yard run to the Atlanta 46-yard line before a false start backed them up five yards.

Weinke then threw a five-yard completion to Hayes on first down. His next pass attempt was incomplete, setting up a third-and-10. He
tossed the ball to Patrick Jeffers, who dived toward the first down, but a measurement showed the ball was about an inch shy of the
marker.

Weinke kept on fourth down, but was stopped at the line of scrimmage.