ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Kevin Mathis bailed out Michael Vick.
After Vick committed a turnover late in the fourth quarter with his team in field-goal range, Mathis returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown 1:29 into overtime, giving the Atlanta Falcons a 20-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
One of the NFL's most electrifying players, Vick missed the first 11 games of the season with a broken right fibula. He played in the second half of last week's game at Houston and made his first start of the season Sunday night.
Vick brought plenty of excitement in his return to the starting lineup. He completed 16-of-33 passes for 179 yards and he more than showed he is back from his leg injury, rushing for 141 yards and a touchdown.
"I was very jacked up. I had to calm myself down," Vick said. "I think that's why I came out early and missed a couple of passes. After I settled down and got going into the second half, I was able to complete some passes and get the offense going. My eyes were moving really fast and I got better as the game went on."
Vick's rushing total was the third most in NFL history by a quarterback. He already holds the record with 173 yards, set last season in overtime against Minnesota.
"It's unbelievable what he can do," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said. "He just gives you a dimension that is really hard for other teams to stop. He's got a long way to go as far as throwing the football but he just makes so many plays on his own."
But Vick nearly ruined his spectacular return. With the Falcons at the Carolina 31 with 14 seconds left in regulation, Vick underthrew a pass intended for tight end Alge Crumpler and free safety Deon Grant came down with an interception.
The Panthers (8-5), who had already tied an NFL record with three victories in overtime, won the toss in the extra session. But their overtime magic quickly disappeared.
On 3rd-and-3 from his own 29, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme threw a short pass across the middle intended for Muhsin Muhammad. But the ball landed in the arms of Mathis, who broken down the left sideline and reached across the goal line pylon for a touchdown.
"It's something you dream about," Mathis said. "They actually ran that play on a key third down and got it. So Keion (Carpenter) told me the next time they do it, just go ahead and jump it. I seen it and I jumped it. It was right there in my hands."
Mathis' return gave the Falcons (3-10) their first home win in seven tries and spoiled the Panthers' initial attempt at winning the NFC South Division.
"Ending it on a pick returned for a touchdown is an extremely disappointing thing," said Delhomme, who completed 13-of-25 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. "There isn't that much more to say."
Carolina has lost three straight but still holds a two-game lead over New Orleans and Tampa Bay with three games left.
