Carolina
Panthers
0-1
35
FINAL
19
Atlanta
Falcons
1-0
AI Recap
AI RECAPThe Carolina Panthers topped the Atlanta Falcons 35-19 in a decisive Week 2 matchup, solidifying their early season momentum. With both teams vying for a strong start in the 2026 season, the Panthers emerged victorious, showcasing a potent offensive display.
Leading the charge for the Panthers was quarterback Bryce Young, who threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns, demonstrating precision and poise throughout the game. Velus Jones Jr. was his top target, racking up 135 receiving yards, while the Falcons' Bijan Robinson shined on the ground, amassing an impressive 171 rushing yards, but it wasn't enough to secure a win.
On the defensive side, the Panthers made critical plays that shifted the game's momentum. Jaycee Horn led the team with four tackles, but it was Jaelan Phillips' 1.5 sacks and Devin Lloyd's interception that truly turned the tide, stifling any hopes of a Falcons comeback. The Panthers' defense played a vital role in maintaining control, ensuring that their lead remained intact as the clock wound down.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Young | QB | 21 | 16 | 76% | 286 | 4 | 0 | 157.2 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 26 | 17 | 65% | 198 | 0 | 2 | 56.2 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 13 | 171 | 13.2 | 14 | 3 | 45 | 0 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 2 | 44 | 22.0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 0 |
| Velus Jones Jr | HB | 13 | 23 | 1.8 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| Drew Allar | QB | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velus Jones Jr | HB | 7 | 135 | 19.3 | 102 | 4 | 66 | 0 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 6 | 87 | 14.5 | 37 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 5 | 58 | 11.6 | 13 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 3 | 40 | 13.3 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Xavier Legette | WR | 1 | 32 | 32.0 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
| Drake London | WR | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Austin Hooper | TE | 2 | 21 | 10.5 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Darren Waller | TE | 1 | 19 | 19.0 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | WR | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Chris Brazzell II | WR | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Lloyd | WILL | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jaelan Phillips | REDG | 2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Smith | SAM | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Scott | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jaycee Horn | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lee Hunter | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Okereke | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Avieon Terrell | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tershawn Wharton | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harold Perkins Jr | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Dorlus | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| DeMarcco Hellams | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Brown | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tre'von Moehrig | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Jackson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gervon Dexter Sr | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalon Walker | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Akayleb Evans | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C.J. Henderson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lathan Ransom | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Billy Bowman Jr | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Nick Folk | K | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

