Carolina Panthers Fall to Atlanta Falcons, 38-20

The Carolina Panthers suffered a 38-20 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, October 13, 2024, dropping their record to 1-5. Atlanta took control in the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points after the Panthers initially kept pace early in the game. The Panthers led 7-0 in the first quarter thanks to a touchdown pass from veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who had returned from injury. Dalton finished the game with 221 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.

Running back Chuba Hubbard contributed on the ground with 92 rushing yards on 18 carries, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a potent Falcons offense. The Panthers’ defense struggled to contain Atlanta’s running game, allowing 105 yards and 1 rushing touchdown from Tyler Allgeier and 95 yards on 15 carries from Bijan Robinson. In the air, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins exploited Carolina’s secondary with 225 passing yards and 1 touchdown.

The Panthers’ defense, a key concern over the last six games, has allowed an average of 30.2 points per game, showing vulnerabilities in both pass coverage and run defense. Even standout rookie linebacker Trevin Wallace, who had 9 tackles, couldn’t prevent the big plays that have plagued the Panthers all season​

Next up for the Panthers is a Week 7 matchup against the Washington Commanders as they try to salvage their season and stop their defensive struggles.