Panthers Shut Out Falcons in Divisional Matchup

The Carolina Panthers faced the Atlanta Falcons in their first NFC South matchup of the 2025 season on Sunday, September 21, at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers secured a dominant thirty to nothing shutout victory, marking their first win of the season after starting zero and two.

This game also marked the Falcons' second consecutive loss, dropping them to zero and two following their defeat in Week One against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Carolina's defense set a commanding tone from the outset, allowing no points, denying any red-zone trips, and forcing three turnovers, including a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Notably, one of the interceptions was returned for a touchdown by cornerback Chau Smith-Wade. The Panthers' offense, while not overwhelming in numbers, managed to score effectively. Quarterback Bryce Young opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown in the first quarter, followed by a 57-yard field goal from rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, giving Carolina a ten to nothing lead at halftime.

Fitzgerald added another field goal in the third quarter, and Smith-Wade's pick-six extended the lead to twenty to nothing entering the fourth. The scoring was capped off with Fitzgerald's third field goal and a one-yard touchdown run from Rico Dowdle.

On the Falcons' side, second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggled significantly, completing only eighteen of thirty-six passes for one hundred seventy-two yards, with two costly interceptions that contributed to his benching in the fourth quarter.

Bijan Robinson stood out for Atlanta, rushing for seventy-two yards on thirteen attempts, and adding five receptions for thirty-nine yards. After two third-quarter interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by Smith-Wade, head coach Raheem Morris opted to replace Penix with veteran Kirk Cousins, stating the decision was purely situational and aimed at protecting players in a game that was out of hand.

Special teams also played a critical role, as Fitzgerald went three for three on field goals, including the impressive fifty-seven-yarder, which tied for the second-longest kick in franchise history. In contrast, Falcons kicker Parker Romo, who had gone five for five the previous week, missed attempts from forty-nine and fifty-five yards in the first quarter.

This shutout marks the NFL's first of the 2025 season and the eighth in Panthers' history, highlighting a turnaround for Carolina fans hoping for a change after several disappointing seasons. The Panthers have not reached the playoffs since 2017, and they will have a chance to complete a season sweep against the Falcons when they meet again in Week Eleven.