The Carolina Panthers kick off the 2023 regular season traveling down I-85 to take on NFC South divisional foe, the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers will begin the campaign on the road for the first time since 2017 after five consecutive Week
One home games.
This will mark the 57th meeting between the two teams and just the fifth time the two teams have kicked off the season against each other (first since 2006). The Panthers have faced only the New Orleans Saints (57 matchups) more in franchise history. This will be the ninth time Carolina has kicked off the season with a divisional opponent and first since 2014.
Coach Reich’s tenture as head coach begins in a familiar place where he started as the opening day quarterback in the Panther’s inaugural season in 1995 against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons are led by third-year Head Coach Arthur Smith. Atlanta finished the 2022 season with a 7-10 record and in fourth place of the NFC South.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- Since 2000, the Panthers have allowed the 10th-least points league-wide in Week One matchups (451).
- Since 2005, the Panthers have allowed the least passing yards per game league-wide in Week One matchups (184.4).
- Since 2005, the Panthers have allowed the third-least yards per game league-wide in Week One Matchups (306.0).
- Since 2000, RB Miles Sanders is one of 14 players with 750+ rushing yards in each of their first four seasons. Only eight players since 2000 have reached 750+ rushing yards in each of their first five seasons.
- Since entering the league in 2011, OLB Justin Houston leads the league in Week One sacks with 12.0. He’s also tied for fifth in tackles for loss with 11.0 (11 games).
About Atlanta
- The Falcons finished with the third best rushing offense in 2022 with 2,718 yards on the ground. Per Pro Football Focus, Atlanta was also the only team to have multiple players finish with top five run blocking grades last season.
- Atlanta’s defense limited opponents to an average of 7.9 points in the second half of games last season — second-fewest in the NFL.
- The Falcons committed the fewest penalties in the NFL last season, leading the league in fewest offensive penalties per game (2.06), defensive penalties per game (1.13) and fewest penalties per game overall (4.13).
- Drake London finished last season with 72 catches, surpassing Kyle Pitts (68 in 2021) for the most receptions by a rookie in franchise history.
- Calais Campbell enters year 16 with 800 tackles (576 solo), 99 sacks, 165 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries (three returned for touchdowns), 57 passes defensed and three interceptions.
Connections
- Panthers OLB Justin Houston is a native of Statesboro, Ga. and attended Statesboro HS. He played college football at Georgia from 2007-2010.
- Panthers DT Derrick Brown is a native of Buford, Ga. and attended Lanier HS.
- Panthers TE Tommy Tremble is native of Peachtree Corners, Ga. and attended Wesleyan HS.
- Panthers CB Jaycee Horn is a native of Alpharetta, Ga. and attended Alpharetta HS.
- Panthers OL Cade Mays attended Georgia from 2018-2019.
- Panthers S Vonn Bell is a native of Rossville, Ga. and attended Ridgeland HS.
- Panthers S Jammie Robinson is a native of Cordele, Ga. and attended Lee County HS.
- Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith played for North Carolina from 2001-2005 and spent one season on the Tar Heels coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2006.
- Falcons Wide Receivers Coach T.J. Yates played four years as the starting quarterback at North Carolina from 2007-2010.
- Falcons S Jessie Bates III played football at Wake Forest from 2015-2017.
- Falcons DL Grady Jarrett played football at Clemson from 2011-2014.
- Falcons DL Albert Huggins is a native of Orangeburg, S.C. and attended Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS. He played college football at Clemson from 2015-
2018.
- Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson is a native of Rock Hill, S.C. and attended Northwestern HS.
- Falcons P Bradley Pinion is a native of Concord, N.C. and attended Northwest Cabarrus HS. He went on to play college football at Clemson from 2012-
2014.
- Falcons CB A.J. Terrell played college football at Clemson from 2017-2019.
- Falcons OL Ryan Neuzil played college football at Appalachian State from 2017-2020.
- Falcons CB Mike Hughes is a native of New Bern, N.C. and attended New Bern HS.
- Falcons WR Mack Hollins played football at North Carolina from 2013-2016.
- Falcons OL Jovaughn Gwyn is a native of Charlotte, N.C. and attended Harding University HS. He went to play college football at South Carolina from
2018-2023.
Panthers vs Falcons
All-Time Series: 56 total matchups | Atlanta leads the series 35-21
Last Regular Season Games: 11/10/22 | Carolina 25 vs Atlanta 15
Series Record at Venue in Regular Season: The Atlanta Falcons hold a 20-8 overall record at home against the Carolina Panthers
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET FOX – Chris Myers – Play by Play; Robert Smith – Color; Jen Hale – Sideline
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market – Anish Shroff (Play by Play), Kurt Coleman (Color), Jim Szoke (Color), Kevin Donnalley (Sideline)
Per Release