Carolina
Panthers
0-1
17
FINAL
35
Atlanta
Falcons
0-1
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a commanding performance, the Atlanta Falcons topped the Carolina Panthers 35-17 in Week 2 of the 2026 season. This victory was crucial for the Falcons as they look to establish themselves early in the campaign and maintain momentum against their division rivals.
Michael Penix Jr. was the standout performer for Atlanta, throwing for 242 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to lead the offense efficiently. Bijan Robinson contributed significantly on the ground, racking up 76 rushing yards, while the Panthers' Chris Brazzell II stood out in defeat with an impressive 183 receiving yards, though it wasn't enough to turn the tide.
Defensively, the Falcons made crucial plays that swung momentum in their favor, highlighted by Gervon Dexter Sr.'s sack and Trevon Diggs' interception, which halted Carolina's drives at key moments. The turning point came in the second quarter when Penix Jr. connected for a touchdown after the interception, giving Atlanta a lead they would not relinquish. The Falcons' defensive pressure and timely turnovers proved decisive in their victory.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 20 | 15 | 75% | 242 | 3 | 1 | 133.7 |
| Kenny Pickett | QB | 21 | 7 | 33% | 212 | 1 | 2 | 48.2 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 3 | 3 | 100% | 36 | 0 | 0 | 116.6 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 15 | 76 | 5.1 | 11 | 2 | 40 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Kenny Pickett | QB | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | — | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | — | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Charlie Woerner | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Brazzell II | WR | 4 | 183 | 45.8 | 51 | 1 | 89 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 4 | 102 | 25.5 | 67 | 1 | 30 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 4 | 67 | 16.8 | 49 | 2 | 29 | 0 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 3 | 56 | 18.7 | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Drake London | WR | 3 | 35 | 11.7 | 8 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Charlie Woerner | TE | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 11 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Jahan Dotson | WR | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | — | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Darren Waller | TE | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 2 | -1 | -0.5 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaycee Horn | CB | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trevon Diggs | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Jackson | CB | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalon Walker | LEDG | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jessie Bates III | FS | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Gervon Dexter Sr | DT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Harris | MIKE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tre'von Moehrig | FS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Lloyd | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Brown | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avieon Terrell | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Nick Scott | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sydney Brown | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Xavier Watts | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Divine Deablo | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lathan Ransom | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kendal Daniels | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Decamerion Richardson | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaiah Simmons | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Okereke | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nic Scourton | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Princely Umanmielen | REDG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C.J. Henderson | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Folk | K | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 1 | 1 | 2 | 45 |