NASHVILLE Deandre Baker Jersey , Tenn. (AP) — of emotions over the past few weeks with the lowest of lows in the death of his father early in training camp, and now the linebacker is enjoying the highest of highs.The undrafted free agent rookie from Temple has earned a spot on the Tennessee Titans‘ roster .“It’s something I still have to deal with every day,” Finch said Monday as he sat at a locker with his name taped overhead until a permanent nameplate can be added.“I just lost my mom a couple years ago and losing my dad … God gives us, what’s the saying? … God gives his toughest battles to the strongest, so I’m just feeling blessed.”Finch had been in training camp less than a week when his father, Gregory “Sharif” Finch, died at the age of 61. The funeral was Aug. 6, just before the Titans’ preseason opener in Green Bay. Finch attended the funeral with a family that includes his 20 brothers and sisters, and then he made his NFL debut with a sack in the third quarter.Titans outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen said they had known about Finch’s toughness and the type of young man he is since they signed him. That performance in an emotional week made everyone in the organization happy for Finch.“It’s not easy to do that,” Bowen said.Finch is one of four undrafted rookie free agents to make the Titans’ 53-man roster in the final cut-down: offensive lineman Aaron Stinnie, defensive end Matt Dickerson and wide receiver Cameron Batson. The Titans open the season Sunday at Miami.What the Titans liked when they signed the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Finch in May was his length, power, work ethic and ability to rush the quarterback. A bit raw after starting 25 of 53 games at Temple, but Finch finished his career with 14½ sacks, 32 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and the NCAA career leader with five blocked punts.The Titans also got to see how Finch handled personal adversity up close. Finch’s mother Oshane Ximines Jersey , Wendy, died of breast cancer in 2015, and that made losing his father to a heart attack even tougher. Titans general manager Jon Robinson said he’s talked with Finch several times and has a good relationship with the 22-year-old linebacker.“He’s a good young man,” Robinson said. “To be able to overcome some of those things, I think, speaks to his mental toughness and his ability to push through and chase this dream that he has to play professional football.”Once Finch learned he had made the Titans’ roster, spreading the news to his family was easy with a group text before the phone calls poured in.“They were happy I got this opportunity despite all the things and all the trials and tribulations I had to go through,” Finch said.Finch, who’s staying in a hotel, still has to find a place to live. He’s also working through an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the preseason finale and practice Monday. He can lean on teammates such as linebacker Jayon Brown as he gets used to being in the NFL. There’s also prayer.“I pray all the time talking to God and just asking him to help me and guide me through this stressful and long situation …,” Finch said. “But I’m here now, and I’m just ready to get to work.”Notes: The Titans voted Marcus Mariota and tight end Delanie Walker as offensive captains, defensive lineman Jurrell Casey and linebacker Wesley Woodyard as defensive captains and Daren Bates as special teams captain. … The Titans filled out their practice squad Monday, adding WR Austin Proehl, OL Coleman Shelton, DL Deon Simon and QB Logan Woodside. ATLANTA (AP)The Atlanta Falcons have no complaints about a short practice week and a long road trip as their reward for being the NFC’s last team to make the playoffs. Matt Bryant kicked five field goals, including a 56-yarder Julian Love Jersey , for all of Atlanta’s second-half points and the Falcons clinched a playoff spot by beating the Carolina Panthers 22-10 on Sunday. Atlanta (10-6) is the No. 6 seed in the NFC and will play at the Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card game Saturday night.Article continues below ... ”We’re in it. That’s the only thing you can ask for,” Bryant said. After the teams played to a 7-7 halftime tie, the 42-year-old Bryant kicked field goals of 30, 42, 30, 56 and 33 yards without a miss. ”We needed every point we could get today,” Bryant said. On a day when Cam Newton and the Panthers’ offense struggled, Bryant’s 15 points provided a margin too great for Carolina to overcome. The Panthers were held to 248 total yards. ”We didn’t play well enough to win,” tight end Greg Olsen said. ”We can lie to ourselves, but we just didn’t play well enough offensively to win.” The Panthers (11-5) had a playoff spot secured entering the weekend, but they couldn’t improve their position. Minnesota’s 23-10 win over Chicago earlier Sunday ended the Panthers’ hopes of a first-round bye. The loss to the Falcons ended Carolina’s goal of winning the NFC South, and the Panthers will open the playoffs at New Orleans on Sunday. Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn said the Panthers have to move past the loss quickly. ”It’s time to let this one go,” Munnerlyn said. ”We don’t have time to let this loss linger on. It’s playoff time. We’ve got to let it go, move forward and get ready for New Orleans.” Matt Ryan completed 28 of 45 passes for 317 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Devonta Freeman on Atlanta’s opening drive, and no interceptions. The Panthers pulled even on Newton’s 4-yard scoring pass to Devin Funchess late in the first half. Newton threw three second-half interceptions. The third interception, by Robert Alford in the end zone with 8 seconds remaining Darius Slayton Jersey , ended the Panthers’ final drive. Newton completed 14 of 34 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown. He led Carolina with 59 yards rushing, including a 17-yarder. Newton said facing the Falcons, who faced a must-win situation, created a playoff environment. ”This is playoff football,” Newton said. ”This was a hostile environment today and the way it’s looking we’re going to have a lot of hostile environments to go into.” The Panthers’ only offensive highlight was a 16-play touchdown drive that consumed more than half of the second quarter and tied the game at 7. Newton completed a 27-yard pass to Brenton Bersin on a third-and-23 play to set up his scoring pass to Funchess. The Falcons will be playing for a repeat trip to the Super Bowl. ”All you want is an opportunity,” said defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who had a sack and three tackles for losses. ”We have one. Now it’s up to us to take advantage of it.” SLOW START Newton was 0 for 9 before finally completing his final seven passes of the first half. Newton completed his first pass to McCaffrey – for a loss of 3 yards – midway through the second quarter. MILESTONE FOR JULIO Julio Jones caught a 14-yard pass midway through the third quarter to reach 9,000 career yards faster than any receiver since the 1970 merger. The two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection last month set the league mark with the most catches and yards receiving in a receiver’s first 90 games. Jones finished with five catches for 80 yards, giving him 9,054 for his career. TD ERASED ON REVIEW With the game tied in the third quarter, the Falcons had an apparent touchdown taken off the board when a review showed Mohamed Sanu didn’t maintain control of a 12-yard catch in the end zone. The ball hit the ground after Sanu collided with Jones, who also was crossing to the middle of the end zone. The Falcons settled for Bryant’s first 30-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead. NO STEWART Running back Jonathan Stewart was scratched due to back tightness. The Panthers also were without two more starters: safety Kurt Coleman (ankle), and right guard Trai Turner (concussion). UP NEXT Panthers: Carolina will play at New Orleans on Sunday in the first round of the NFC playoffs. Falcons: Atlanta will visit the Rams on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs. —