FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The uncertain status of Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, who is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers, could put the Atlanta Falcons in a difficult predicament in a game that will decide their playoff status.
Mack missed his second consecutive practice Friday while nursing a calf strain. He was not on the field doing any type of rehabilitation exercises, although coach Dan Quinn indicated Mack completed some type of movement, maybe inside the facility.
"I just really want to take all the time we need to make a good decision on that," Quinn said of Mack's status. "It's good it's a 4:25 game. It's a couple more hours [to make a decision]. He is one of the toughest competitors I've had the privilege to be around. So, we'll take it all the way through."
One would figure a guy who played the entire Super Bowl with a fractured fibula would tough it out, considering the stakes. If the Falcons win, they secure the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff field. If they lose and the Seattle Seahawks defeat the Arizona Cardinals, the Falcons will watch the playoffs from home.
Even with Mack, the Panthers' defensive front poses a challenge for an offensive line that has been average at best. Left guard Andy Levitre is slated to return to the lineup after missing three games with a triceps injury. Right guard Wes Schweitzer is battling through a groin injury. And Ben Garland, who started at left guard with Levitre sidelined, would fill in at center if Mack is unable to go.
All of them would be asked to contain Panthers defensive tackles Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei, along with future Hall of Famer Julius Peppers, Mario Addison, Charles Johnson, and the rest of the Panthers' defensive front, coached by Eric Washington. That's not to mention how linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis add to the Panthers' pressure package.
"I feel better at guard now because of what I've seen from Wes and Andy," Quinn said. "So I think they are much closer to being full [healthy] then they've been in a while.
"Ben is somebody that we count on. He's such a cool guy because he's equipped to play right guard, left guard, center. So if we go that way, the trust and confidence in him is through the roof. If Alex is able to go, then Ben would be the backup at all three spots -- at center, at both guards."
The Falcons promoted guard Jamil Douglas to the active roster as added insurance, but it wasn't a move directly related to Mack's playing status.
It will be challenging for the Falcons no matter which interior offensive linemen are on the field, particularly with the 6-foot-3, 315-pound Short recording 3.5 sacks over his past three games.
"He has rare quickness for a guy his size," Quinn said. "Sometimes they're a guy who is 285, 290, who can really move. So it's pretty rare when you have a guy who has the size of him but the ability to penetrate and get up the field. When you have that kind of guy who has quickness -- sometimes, a quicker guy you can latch on and anchor down -- but this is a big guy who's got that kind of quickness. He has pass-rush ability as an inside guy. Anytime the pass-rusher inside getting going, it usually means good things for the outside guys."
The Falcons couldn't get the running game going during a 20-17 loss to the Panthers in Week 9, compiling just 53 yards on 18 carries, with Devonta Freeman picking up 46 of those yards on 11 carries. In the passing game, Ryan was sacked twice by Wes Horton and Addison and hit eight times, twice by Short. But the Panthers' downhill attacking defense gave Ryan a chance to attempt a couple of deep balls to Julio Jones, one which he overthrew and the other Jones dropped.
The Falcons have to take advantage of any scoring opportunity they get this time. They are 0-6 in games they fail to reach 20 points.
