"Falcons running back Michael Turner, with an ugly cut above his left eye, looked like he'd just gone 15 rounds in a heavyweight prize fight.

But for Turner and his teammates, it was another positive decision. The back was all smiles besides abrasions after scoring three touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 31-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

With Turner churning out 112 yards on 28 bruising carries, the Falcons improved to 11-2, posted their seventh consecutive victory and inched closer to clinching a playoff berth.

They remain one game ahead of New Orleans (10-3) for the NFC South Division title with three games to play.

The Panthers dropped to 1-12 on the season.

Turner, who returned to the scene of his high right ankle sprain that effectively ended his 2009 campaign, wanted to have healthier game against the Panthers.

"Last year, wasn't a great memory," Turner said. "I thought about that when I was walking in the stadium."

Turner, who's from Waukegan, Ill., has played in bad weather before and enjoyed the conditions.

"It was great football weather out there," Turner said. "It was a muddy, sloppy field. I was just out there having fun."

Turner wasn't sure how he got the nasty cut.

"This has never happened before," Turner said. "I can't imagine somebody getting a hand in there because I wear a shield and everything. So my helmet must have slipped."

The Falcons got off to a fast start, hit a lull and closed strong against the Panthers."