The Panthers beat the Falcons 34–3 in Atlanta, moving to 1–1. The Falcons fell to 0–2.
For the Panthers, Bryce Young went 23-for-36 for 287 yards with 3 touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan caught 5 passes for 101 yards.
For the Falcons, Cooper Rush went 10-for-17 for 86 yards with 2 interceptions. Jack Strand also played, going 8-for-15 for 59 yards with 1 interception. Bijan Robinson ran for 72 yards on 16 carries.
On defense, Devin Lloyd (Panthers) had 1 sack, 2 interceptions and a defensive touchdown and Bobby Okereke (Panthers) had an interception.
Recaps are written automatically from the final score and box score: player stats from nflverse (CC BY 4.0).
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young against Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Lineups as listed before kickoff (Panthers: Sep 20, 2026, 8:14 AM ET; Falcons: Sep 20, 2026, 8:14 AM ET).
Panthers in this game: shotgun 54%, under center 40%, pistol 6% · one back 71%, two backs 20%, empty 9% · motion 65% (65 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Panthers lined him up on most snaps.
LCB#24 A.J. Terrell Jr. Questionable (shoulder)Next up: C.J. Henderson
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Panthers lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
LCB#24 A.J. Terrell Jr. Questionable (shoulder)Next up: C.J. Henderson
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 20% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Mitchell Evans, is shown at fullback.
LCB#24 A.J. Terrell Jr. Questionable (shoulder)Next up: C.J. Henderson
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Panthers lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 9% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
LCB#24 A.J. Terrell Jr. Questionable (shoulder)Next up: C.J. Henderson
SS#3 Jessie Bates IIINext up: DeMarcco Hellams
FS#31 Xavier WattsNext up: Sydney Brown
RCB#21 Mike HughesNext up: Mike Ford Jr.
Defense shown in its base front.
Falcons offense vs Panthers defense
Falcons in this game: shotgun 52%, under center 45%, pistol 3% · one back 74%, two backs 17%, empty 9% · motion 43% (69 charted snaps).
As the team lists it: three receivers, one tight end and one running back. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps.
RDE#97 Bobby Brown III Out (back)Next up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones II Questionable (back)Next up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Claudin Cherelus
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#2 Mike JacksonNext up: Akayleb Evans
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#8 Jaycee HornNext up: Will Lee III
Two tight ends: the top two receivers stay on the field and the second tight end lines up on the left end. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
Falcons offense, 2 TE
LT#70 Jake MatthewsNext up: Michael Jerrell
LG#65 Matthew BergeronNext up: Kyle Hinton
C#64 Ryan NeuzilNext up: Corey Levin
RG#63 Chris Lindstrom Questionable (concussion)No backup listed
RDE#97 Bobby Brown III Out (back)Next up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones II Questionable (back)Next up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Claudin Cherelus
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#2 Mike JacksonNext up: Akayleb Evans
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#8 Jaycee HornNext up: Will Lee III
I-formation: two receivers and one tight end, with the quarterback under center and a fullback and running back stacked behind him. Two-back sets: 17% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement. No fullback on the depth chart, so the second tight end, Charlie Woerner, is shown at fullback.
Falcons offense, I-form
LT#70 Jake MatthewsNext up: Michael Jerrell
LG#65 Matthew BergeronNext up: Kyle Hinton
C#64 Ryan NeuzilNext up: Corey Levin
RG#63 Chris Lindstrom Questionable (concussion)No backup listed
RDE#97 Bobby Brown III Out (back)Next up: TeRah Edwards
WLB#91 Patrick Jones II Questionable (back)Next up: Trevis Gipson
LILB#55 Devin LloydNext up: Tyrel Dodson
RILB#58 Bobby OkerekeNext up: Claudin Cherelus
SLB#5 Jaelan PhillipsNext up: Princely Umanmielen
LCB#2 Mike JacksonNext up: Akayleb Evans
SS#7 Tre'von MoehrigNext up: Zakee Wheatley
FS#21 Nick ScottNext up: Lathan Ransom
RCB#8 Jaycee HornNext up: Will Lee III
Four receivers and no tight end: the next receiver on the depth chart comes in. Quarterback shown in the shotgun, where the Falcons lined him up on most snaps. Empty-backfield sets: 9% of snaps in this game. Players beyond the listed starters come from the depth-chart order: this is who is most likely in, not a team announcement.
Falcons offense, 4 WR
LT#70 Jake MatthewsNext up: Michael Jerrell
LG#65 Matthew BergeronNext up: Kyle Hinton
C#64 Ryan NeuzilNext up: Corey Levin
RG#63 Chris Lindstrom Questionable (concussion)No backup listed