Panthers and Falcons Face Off in Week 2 Amidst Early Season Struggles
Both NFC South teams aim to rebound from opening-week losses, with oddsmakers setting a low total for their upcoming matchup.
The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, both starting their seasons with 0-1 records, are set to meet in Week 2 with expectations of a low-scoring affair. Oddsmakers have set the total for the game at 43.5 points, a notable decrease following a Week 1 slate that saw a surge in scoring across the league.
The Panthers are coming off a 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears, a game that featured a high-octane offensive performance from the Bears' Caleb Williams. Despite the lopsided score, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young showcased potential, outgaining Williams through the air with 361 yards and three touchdowns. However, the team's defense allowed 7.9 yards per play, a statistic that ranked last in the NFL in Week 1.
Atlanta's quarterback situation remains unsettled, with Cooper Rush expected to start under center. Rush's performance in Week 1 was statistically poor, ranking last in EPA per play among NFL quarterbacks. Despite this, the Falcons' offense saw a significant workload from running back Bijan Robinson, who accounted for 73 percent of the team's offense in their 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Robinson amassed 174 scrimmage yards, including eight receptions.
The Falcons' defense, while not impenetrable, allowed fewer yards per play than the Panthers, conceding 4.1 yards per play against the Steelers. In their Week 1 game, D'Andre Swift of the Philadelphia Eagles ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns against the Panthers' defense, suggesting a potential avenue for Robinson in the upcoming matchup.
Historically, these two teams have seen moderate scoring in their recent matchups, with their games averaging 47 points over the past five years. Young has a strong record against the Falcons, boasting a 4-1 record with over 1,100 passing yards and seven touchdowns in those contests. Last season, Young threw for a franchise-record 448 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in an overtime win against Atlanta.
Despite Young's individual success against Atlanta, the Panthers face a historical trend of struggling as favorites. They have not won outright or covered the spread in a game where they were favored since September 2021, a streak that extends over 12 games, the longest such ATS losing streak as a favorite in recent memory. The prediction for the Week 2 game leans towards the over, anticipating a contest where both teams, despite their struggles, can exploit the opposition's defensive weaknesses. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young is depicted passing during a game against the Chicago Bears on September 13, 2026. Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons is shown celebrating a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 13, 2026.