NFL Game Preview: Carolina Panthers (0-1-0) vs. Atlanta Falcons (0-1-0)

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Atlanta Falcons logo

Regular Season: ATL leads series, 37-25 (CAR won past 4 of past 5)

Last meeting: 11/16/25: CAR 30 at ATL 27 (OT)

Dave Canales (CAR) vs. Opp. (incl. postseason): 3-1 Reg. Season: 13-22 (.371)

Kevin Stefanski (ATL) vs. Opp. (incl. postseason): 1-0 Reg. Season: 45-57 (.441)

FOX: Tim Brando, Matt Millen, Sarah Kustok (field reporter)

PANTHERS NOTES

• QB BRYCE YOUNG passed for 361 yards & 3 TDs for 110.3 rating & had rush TD in last week, 3rd-most pass yards among QBs in Week 1. Had career-high 448 pass yards & had 3 TD passes in last meeting. Has 3+ TD passes in 2 of his last 3 vs. Atl. • RB CHUBA HUBBARD had 87 scrimmage yards (49 rush, 38 rec.) & 2 TDs (1 rush, 1 rec.) in Week 1, 1 of 4 RBs (David Montgomery, Javonte Williams & Kenneth Walker) with both a rush & rec. TD last week. Has 75+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his last 4 vs. Atl. • WR TETAIROA MCMILLAN had 5 catches for 75 yards in Week 1. Led all rookies in 2025 with 1,014 rec. yards & 7 TD receptions, only rookie with 1,000+ rec. yards. Had 8 catches for 130 yards & 2 TDs in last meeting. • WR JALEN COKER led team with career-high 8 receptions for 138 yards & 2 TDs in Week 1, 4th-most rec. yards in NFL last week. • DT DERRICK BROWN had 73 tackles, 5 TFL & 1st career FF in 2025. • LB DEVIN LLOYD led team with 13 tackles in Car. debut in Week 1. Had careerhigh 5 INTs in 2025, tied-most among LBs, with Jax. • LB JAELAN PHILLIPS had sack in Car. debut in Week 1. • LB BOBBY OKEREKE had 6 tackles, TFL & FF in Car. debut last week. • CB MIKE JACKSON aims for 6th in row vs. Atl. with PD & has INT in 2 of his last 3 vs. Atl. Ranked tied-1st in NFL with career-high 19 PD. Had 4 INTs last season, incl. his 1st career INT-TD. • CB JAYCEE HORN had career-high 5 INTs in 2025, tied 2nd-most in NFL. • CB WILL LEE had 5 tackles, PD & FR in NFL debut Week 1. • S NICK SCOTT had 7 tackles in Week 1 & had 8 tackles in last meeting. • S TRE’VON MOEHRIG led all DBs with career-high 14 TFL in 2025, most TFL by DB in single season since 2000. Had 11 tackles in last meeting & aims for 3rd in row vs. Atl. with 6+ tackles

FALCONS NOTES

• QB COOPER RUSH passed for 143 yards & TD in Week 1. Passed for 214 yards & 3 TDs for 119.0 rating in last game vs. Car. (12/15/24 w/ Dal.). • QB TUA TAGOVAILOA totaled 2,660 pass yards & 20 TD passes in 2025 with Mia. Led NFL with 4,624 pass yards in 2023 (w/ Mia.). Can make Atl. debut. • RB BIJAN ROBINSON had 173 scrimmage yards (90 rec., 83 rush) & TD catch in Week 1, 4th-most scrimmage yards in NFL last week. Can become 5th player ever with 1,800+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his 1st 4 career seasons. Aims for 5th in row vs. Car. with 100+ scrimmage yards & has 2+ rush TDs in 2 of his last 3 vs. Car. • WR DRAKE LONDON had 7 receptions for 119 yards in last meeting & has 115+ rec. yards in 2 of his last 3 vs. Car. Totaled 68 receptions for 919 yards & 7 TDs in 2025. Has 850+ rec. yards in all 4 career seasons. • TE KYLE PITTS ranks 4th among TEs since 2021 with 3,579 rec. yards. Set career-highs in receptions (88) & TD catches (5) in 2025 & ranked 2nd among TEs with 928 rec. yards. • LB DIVINE DEABLO co-led team with 7 tackles & had TFL & FR in Week 1, 1 of 3 (Terrel Bernard & Demetrius Knight) with 7+ tackles & FR last week. Had career-high 5 TFL in 2025. • DE ZA’DARIUS SMITH had 2 sacks & 3 TFL in Week 1. • DB SYDNEY BROWN co-led team with 7 tackles in Atl. debut last week. • CB A.J. TERRELL had 5 tackles & PD in Week 1 & has PD in 2 of his last 3 vs. Car. Had FF in 2 of his last 3 at home in 2025. • CB MIKE HUGHES had 2 PD in Week 1. • S XAVIER WATTS ranked tied-2nd in NFL with 5 INTs & tied-1st among rookies • with 11 PD in 2025. Had PD in last meeting. • S JESSIE BATES had 6 tackles in Week 1 & aims for 3rd in row vs. Car. with 7+ tackles. Had 3 INTs in 2025 & became 4th DB since 2000 with 3+ INTs in 7 of

Game Odds

Carolina Panthers            – 2.5

Atlanta Falcons                 44

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, September 19, 2026

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