Published: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 / Updated: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 01:24 AM

Resurgent Peppers hopes to continue hot streak

CHARLOTTE -- Call it amazed, impressed, awestruck, whatever.

But don't call the Panthers shocked to see what Julius Peppers is doing right now.

Peppers enters this week's game at Atlanta on a hot streak, with five sacks and three forced fumbles in the last two games.

"He's been outstanding, from Week 1 to now," coach John Fox said. "We're going to need him to be outstanding moving forward.

"It's not a surprise. We're used to it."

Peppers clearly has bounced back to form this season after last year's 2.5-sack debacle. He's sitting on nine sacks, behind only Atlanta's John Abraham (11.0) among defensive ends. He's also posted a league-high five forced fumbles and leads the Panthers with 17 quarterback pressures.

"Certain people are apart, and Julius Peppers, he's one of those guys," linebacker Thomas Davis said. "He's a dynamic talent, and he's been playing well and we knew he was going to play well based on how he was in training camp."

Fox said much of Peppers' recent resurgence is tied to the overall team improvement. He kept saying last year that part of what held Peppers' numbers down was the fact teams rarely had to throw the ball to beat the scoring-impaired 2007 Panthers.

"It's a little harder to be dynamic in those types of games when they're two tight ends, two backs and running the ball," Fox said. "The fact we've been in the lead in some games and people have been playing some catch-up puts them in a more vulnerable position."

Sunday's game sets up to provide more opportunities.

Falcons left tackle Sam Baker's still out after back surgery, leaving sore-legged veteran Todd Weiner blocking Peppers. Weiner's been in and out of practice because of knee problems and can't match up with Peppers physically. The next option would be 37-year-old Wayne Gandy, who was signed three weeks ago. To put that acquisition in perspective, they chose Gandy after working out him and former Panthers tackle Todd Steussie.

• BIG TROUBLE: Even though his appeal of his potential steroid suspension was Friday, Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson's expected to play Sunday.

That creates a huge matchup problem -- literally -- for the Panthers.

That Jackson's listed at 345 pounds ranks up there with "To Kill a Mockingbird," in terms of fiction, since he's much closer to 400. But his size is coupled with instincts and surprising quickness, according to Panthers left guard Travelle Wharton.

"He's a big guy who can move," Wharton said. "He's got mobility. He doesn't just sit there. He has great strength. We have to stay on our blocks, because we know he's a good player."

Former Panthers defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead said playing with Jackson reminds him of his Carolina days.

"He's like Kris Jenkins in his prime, because you absolutely have to double that guy," Moorehead said. "You are not going to knock that guy off the ball, that gap is plugged.

"Sometimes, it can actually put more pressure on the guy next to him, because you know he's tying up two blockers so you have to make a play."

• SECONDARY UPGRADE: In the first meeting, the Panthers made a point to pick on Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes. Though a promising prospect, Grimes was at the unfortunate intersection of small and inexperienced and was taken advantage of all day. It's no accident that physical veteran Muhsin Muhammad had his best day with eight catches for 147 yards and a touchdown.

This time, it'll be tougher, with Domonique Foxworth, acquired in trade with Denver, now starting.

"Domonique has done a very nice job for us since he's been inserted into the lineup," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "He's a very talented cornerback. He's got great ball skills and cover skills. He has been another piece into our defense that's going to allow us to play successfully."

• EXTRA POINTS: Linebacker Jon Beason was fined $5,000 by the league for last week's facemask of Detroit quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Beason wasn't flagged for a penalty on the play, which occurred on a fourth-quarter 2-point conversion attempt which could have tied the game. ...

The Panthers submitted their friendliest injury report of the season Friday. Only four names are on it, and all four are probable: Center Ryan Kalil (ankle), Davis (ankle), defensive tackle Darwin Walker (neck) and backup tackle Jeremy Bridges (heart). ...

Asked if Kalil's health meant he'd start, Fox said he'd be a "game-time decision."