CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It had been almost three years since Atlanta Falcons cornerback AJ Terrell last selected a quarterback. So when his fingertips connected on a long-overdue interception, he had no choice but to take a victory lap.

After his momentum took him out of bounds, Terrell ran down the Carolina Panthers sideline before his teammates mobbed him on the other end. They also understood that this would take a long time for Terrell.

“All the guys come to work with me every day. They know how big that game meant to me and the entire organization,” Terrell said after Sunday’s 38-20 win against the Panthers. “I’m just trying to bring that energy, I’m just trying to close out the game.”

Terrell’s interception was not only special because it was his first since Jan. 2, 2022, but it also gave the Falcons a much-needed stop in the fourth quarter of what was a hard-fought game at the time. The fifth-year corner stole a scoring opportunity from the Panthers, who trailed 28-20 deep in Atlanta territory with 10:53 to play. Before that, it was a back-and-forth affair between quarterbacks Kirk Cousins ​​and Andy Dalton.

Following Terrell’s pick, the Panthers would not score again and the Falcons would increase their lead by another 10 points to seal the victory and remain at the top of the NFC South.

“That type of play is what will separate him from being a very good corner in this league to one of the elite,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “We feel like we belong to the elite and that’s why we’re happy to have him in our football team. We’re lucky to be able to draft him. We’re lucky to be able to keep him. We’re lucky to have him can maintain.” able to roll him over and give him a new deal.”

The Falcons signed the Atlanta native to a four-year, $81 million contract extension knowing Terrell’s value went beyond the stats.

“AJ is doing everything right,” safety Jessie Bates III said. “…He hasn’t had many choices, but that first one is just fun to get away from his heart and conscience, and now he can play freely. When something like that happens, AJ go gets a choice Clark (Phillips III) gets a choice , and then I get a choice, and everyone is happy in our room.