Carolina
Panthers
1-0
35
FINAL
38
Atlanta
Falcons
0-1
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Week 2 matchup of the 2026 season, the Atlanta Falcons narrowly defeated the Carolina Panthers with a final score of 38-35. Both teams entered the game looking to secure an early advantage in the season, but it was the Falcons who emerged victorious in a contest filled with big plays and dynamic performances.
Leading the charge for Atlanta was quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who threw for an impressive 348 yards and three touchdowns, showcasing his ability to make crucial throws under pressure. Bijan Robinson added a solid ground game with 92 rushing yards, while Drake London proved to be Penix’s favorite target, racking up 103 receiving yards. The Falcons' offensive prowess was on full display, driving them to a hard-fought victory.
On the defensive side, Divine Deablo made a significant impact for Atlanta, recording two interceptions that proved pivotal in maintaining their lead. Meanwhile, Jaelan Phillips kept the pressure on the Falcons' offense with two sacks, but it was Deablo’s timely turnovers that shifted momentum in Atlanta's favor. The turning point came late in the second half when Deablo intercepted a pass, setting up a touchdown that ultimately sealed the win for the Falcons.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 29 | 21 | 348 | 3 | 2 | 118.1 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 16 | 11 | 106 | 1 | 2 | 68.2 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 10 | 92 | 9.2 | 1 | 24 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 8 | 45 | 5.6 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | 4 | 33 | 8.3 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Jonathon Brooks | HB | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Bryce Young | QB | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Ja'Tavion Sanders | TE | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Xavier Legette | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Drake London | WR | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake London | WR | 8 | 103 | 12.9 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Zachariah Branch | WR | 5 | 94 | 18.8 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts Sr | TE | 3 | 85 | 28.3 | 1 | 66 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | HB | 3 | 45 | 15.0 | 2 | 23 | 0 |
| Chuba Hubbard | HB | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Ja'Tavion Sanders | TE | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 1 | 16 | 0 |
| Jalen Coker | WR | 2 | 26 | 13.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Chris Brazzell II | WR | 2 | 18 | 9.0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | WR | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Austin Hooper | TE | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | WR | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divine Deablo | MIKE | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tre'von Moehrig | FS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaelan Phillips | REDG | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nic Scourton | LEDG | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Scott | SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chau Smith-Wade | CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| James Pearce Jr | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JD Bertrand | SAM | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A.J. Terrell Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Devin Lloyd | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Xavier Watts | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lathan Ransom | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Hughes | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derrick Brown | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DeMarcco Hellams | FS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Harris | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shaq Thompson | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kendal Daniels | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trevin Wallace | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maema Njongmeta | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Da'Shawn Hand | DT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Folk | K | 1 | 1 | 5 | 27 |
| Ryan Fitzgerald | K | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |

