It was Week Three before Carolina Panthers fans got to see their home team in action at Bank of America Stadium – and boy did the Panthers put on a show; pitching the team’s first shut out since November 22, 2020. Limping into divisional play with an 0-2 record and down five starters, aside from a special teams snafu, the Panthers played the ultimate game of complimentary football.
The Falcons got down to the 31 yard line before kicker Parker Romo missed the first of his two missed field goals of the first quarter. Carolina then jumped out to 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game, putting together a 9-play drive that saw quarterback Bryce Young score from the keeper from 4 yards out. Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald booted a 57-yarder to put Carolina up 10-0 going into halftime.
After the break, Carolina had the ball first and punted for what would end up being their only time in the second half. Offensive woes continued for the Falcons as Panthers nickel Chau Smith-Wade plucked a Michael Penix, Jr pass out of the sky at the 11-yard line and ran it in for the pick six. Desperate to get something going and down 17-0, Atlanta went for it on fourth down on their next possession and ended up giving Carolina a short field at their own 45-yard line after a turnover on downs. The Panthers capitalized with another Fitzgerald field goal to push their lead to 20 with 4:48 to play in the third quarter. Eleven plays into the Falcons next drive, Penix was intercepted by Mike Jackson who then returned the ball 54 yards to set up yet another Panthers touchdown. Carolina went nine plays with running back Rico Dowdle punching it in from one yard out as the blowout continued.
With Penix struggling, the Falcons turned to Kirk Cousins to no avail. In fact, the Falcons never made it to the Panthers 30-yard line. Fitzgerald’s third field goal of the day provided the games final points as the Panthers shut out the Falcons 30-0. It was Carolina’s first shut out since they beat the Detroit Lions 20-0 on November 22, 2020. Carolina improves to 1-2, 1-0 in the NFC South, and will hit the road to face the New England Patriots in Week Four.
