Carolina thoroughly dominates Atlanta in home opener to win for 1st time this season
Electric pic.twitter.com/lUoc0yUmhv
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 21, 2025
CHARLOTTE (NC) — Carolina cornerback Chau Smith-Wade returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Panthers made several big defensive plays to defeat the visiting Atlanta Falcons 30-0 on Sunday afternoon in Bank of America Stadium.
Bryce Young ran for a touchdown and threw for 121 yards in Carolina’s home opener. Rico Dowdle also rushed for a touchdown and Ryan Fitzgerald kicked three field goals, including a 57-yarder in the first half.
HIGHLIGHTS: CAROLINA 30, ATLANTA 0
Falcons starter Michael Penix Jr. was intercepted twice, finishing 18-for-36 for 172 yards before he was pulled after three quarters. Running back Bijan Robinson gained 72 yards on 13 carries.
Trailing 27-0, the Falcons (1-2) made a quarterback change by inserting Kirk Cousins in place of Penix. Cousins went 5-for-7 for 29 yards.
It marked Carolina’s first shutout since 2020 vs. the Detroit Lions. Before that, they blanked the Falcons 38-0 in 2015.
Atlanta stalled so often on offense that even recovering a muffed punt in Carolina territory in the first half didn’t help.
Chuba Hubbard rushed for 73 yards for the Panthers (1-2) in the NFC South matchup.
Young scrambled in from 4 yards out to open the scoring, giving the Panthers a lead for the first time this season.
Panther Postgame Download: Tetairoa McMillan
The Falcons, who were denied on their first drive when Parker Romo missed on a 49-yard field goal attempt, outgained Carolina 166-141 in the first half and 332-224 for the game.
Romo, who was in his second game with the Falcons after a change following the team’s opener, later missed from 55 yards. He was 5-for-5 last week at Minnesota.
Following Mike Jackson’s interception and 54-yard return, the Panthers needed to cover only 30 yards to reach the end zone. Dowdle scored from 1 yard out.
Fitzgerald kicked a 41-yard field goal with 3:41 left.
DAVE CANALES POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
BIJAN ROBINSON POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Offense was so scarce at times that the game’s leading receiver was Atlanta’s Drake London with 55 yards on five receptions.
The game marked the 1st NFL meeting for Salpointe Catholic High School grads Robinson and Lathan Ransom. Ransom is a rookie safety for the Panthers. He finished the game with four tackles and forced a fumble that led to a Carolina takeaway.
Robinson and Ransom started for three seasons together for the Lancers here in Tucson, leading the program to a 10-1 record as seniors when Salpointe Catholic advanced to Arizona’s Open Division semifinals.
— Field Level Media
