Falcons vs Panthers: Carolina Seeks Its 1st Win of 2025 (Sep 21)

• For NFL Week 3 Falcons-Panthers, the NFC South division-mates meet in Carolina with Atlanta favored by 5.5 points
• The Falcons are 1-1 after their smothering 22-6 win over the Vikings in Week 2
• The Panthers lost to the Cardinals 27-22, but made a late-game comeback from 27-3 down before falling short on a last-minute drive
• The teams split their two games last season, but the Panthers knocked the Falcons out of playoff contention in Week 18

Falcons Try To Build on Walkover vs Vikings

Vikings’ QB J.J. McCarthy’s struggles against the Falcons are the prevailing storyline from Atlanta’s Week 2, 22-6 victory. However, they played an almost mistake-free game. Michael Penix was 13 for 21 and 135 yards. Bijan Robinson ran for 143 yards on 22 carries. Tyler Allgeier added another 76 on 16 carries and a TD. Kyle Pitts caught 4 balls. Drake London added another 3.

Defensively, they sacked McCarthy 6 times. Billy Bowman and Xavier Watts each had an interception.

This was a much-needed win after their last-minute loss to the Buccaneers in Week 1.

Against the increasingly desperate Panthers, they can’t let Carolina’s late-game run against the Cardinals carry over.

Panthers Need Late-Game Comeback in Week 2 To Be a Flashpoint

There are no moral victories in the NFL, but for a team that had such a woeful start in its first seven quarters of the 2025 season, the Panthers can take solace in putting a scare into the Cardinals in the fourth quarter of Week 2.

They were down 27-3 with just over 17 minutes left in the game. After a frantic comeback, they got it to 27-22 with the ball in the last minute. QB Bryce Young was sacked in Cardinals’ territory on fourth down with 33 seconds left.

Carolina needed to exhibit that fight to keep owner David Tepper quiet for the time being over the team’s slow start. If they do not carry that performance over against the Falcons, it will all be for naught.

Young was 35 for 55 and 328 yards, tossing 3 TD passes and allowing 1 pick. Their rushing attack was blunted. Chuba Hubbard ran for 38 yards on 10 carries. Rico Dowdle had 9 yards on 6 carries. Rookie Tetairoa McMillan caught 6 balls for 100 yards. Ja’Tavion Sanders had 7 for 54. Hunter Renfrow had 7 for 48.

On defense, they stopped the Cardinals’ running game, but Kyler Murray was 17 for 25 and 220 yards.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette was limited during the week with a hamstring issue.

Falcons vs Panthers Pick

Week 3 Falcons-Panthers is a key game for both teams. Atlanta needs to win games in which it is favored. Carolina must get into the win column after the expectations they were saddled with in the offseason.

The Panthers have been weak against the run. With Robinson and Allgeier, the Falcons will try to cram the ball down their throats and probably succeed. Penix simply does not make mistakes.

Did Young turn another corner with the comeback against the Cardinals? He cannot wait to produce until the team is far behind. He needs to be good from the outset.

The Falcons are a bad matchup for the Panthers because they can run the ball, and Penix won’t give the ball away. Atlanta will cover the 5.5-point spread.