For the Carolina Panthers, beating the Atlanta Falcons is always a flavor that’s savored. The feeling of sending their divisional foes down 85 South with an “L” is a feeling that will never get old.
Carolina’s annihilation of the Falcons in Week 3, however, meant more. They played complementary, competitive and disciplined football, and it paid off immensely-their largest margin of victory since 2015, and their first shutout since 2020
For the first time in a long time, the Panthers looked formidable and balanced. While this win was well needed and satisfying, the Panthers know that they have to continue to build and quickly move on to Week 4.
“It’s one week,” Bryce Young said postgame, “For now, it’s great, but we come back tomorrow, watch film, learn from it, and see what we can replicate, and turn the page.”
Here are more takeaways from the Panthers’ huge Week 3.
Suffocating Defense
If Carolina’s defense continues playing well, you can refer to their Week 2 mashup against Arizona as their catalyst. After spotting the Cardinals the first drive of the second half, the much-maligned unit began to lock in and tighten its grip. They haven’t allowed a point in 13 consecutive possessions and have once again held an opponent under 200 rushing yards.
They were also opportunistic in the secondary. The Panthers bullied Michael Penix, Jr into two interceptions. Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade had a 13-yard pick-6. While they may not have sacked Penix, Carolina’s defense pressured the second-year QB just enough to force him into bad decisions and to the bench. The defense trusted their zone scheme when they needed to and also threw in blitzes as well.
Balanced Complementary Offense
While their numbers don’t jump off the page, Carolina’s offense was efficient and balanced nonetheless. I mentioned in my Week 3 preview that the Panthers should attack an aggressive Falcons’ defense by weaponizing their own aggression. Carolina did just that by focusing on short, underneath routes to exploit gaps.
In the still, Young completed a short pass to Brycen Tremayne to the far right. Tremayne sold the route enough to convince Atlanta’s secondary that he would continue running before stopping, and eventually catching the pass to move the chains.
Young followed up with another completion- a one-yard pass to Hunter Refrow. Granted, there wasn’t an opportunity to gain more yards, but the option was available regardless.
Carolina was also committed to this strategy in the red zone.
Here, Tommy Tremble runs a shallow out route. Young would hit him close to the 10-yard line for a 12-yard gain. These short underneath routes kept Young from making careless turnovers, established a running game and gave Tetairoa McMillan opportunities to stretch the field.
Home Field Advantage
Bank Of America Stadium has been relegated to a home game for opponents. Far too often, you would see any color but black and process blue fill the stands. But on Sunday, Panther fans popped out and showed up when they were needed the most. The conditions were perfect for such a response: the first home game against a bitter division rival. Most importantly, the Panthers gave them something to cheer for and a dose of hope for the season.
‘It felt great to be in Bank of America Stadium with our fans,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. “I know the guys feed off of that, and it was something that I saw on the road last week.”
Canales, while acknowledging the fan, reminds the team that they are the catalysts. “We bring the juice,” he said. “We’re the ones that have to get this started.”
The Panthers travel to Foxboro next Sunday to take on the New England Patriots.
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