Latest loss leaves Vick fuming

Chris Weinke credited his first win in five years to Carolina’s renewed emphasis on the running game, and another loss left Michael Vick wondering about Atlanta’s direction.

No matter the perspective of the quarterbacks, the Panthers’ 10-3 win Sunday over the Falcons left each team at 7-8 -- and still in the jumbled NFC wild-card playoff hunt -- with one week to go.

After Atlanta’s fourth consecutive home loss, Vick seemed to question decisions by Coach Jim Mora and his staff.

“We’ve got first-round guys, we’ve got guys that have been in the Pro Bowl offensively and defensively, guys who’ve been in the scheme for two to three years,” Vick said. “You know, the talent level is there, and I just think it’s a question that needs to be answered. I don’t know what it is, but we’re too good to be losing these games, and we should be ranked among the elite in this league this year and we’re not.”

He added: “You can’t just come out there and try to wing it. I’m not saying we did that, but either we’ve got to come out and throw the football or come out and try to establish the run.”

Carolina outgained the Falcons’ league-leading rushing attack, 183-83. DeShaun Foster had 102 yards in 28 carries.

Weinke completed only four of seven passes for 32 yards, but that included a one-yard scoring pass to Jeff King for the only touchdown, capping a 16-play drive (including 12 runs) that lasted 10 minutes 36 seconds.

Carolina’s time of possession was 41:47, to 18:13 for Atlanta. That sort of domination “is what happens when you run the ball,” said Weinke, who broke a 17-game losing streak as a starter.