Panthers vs. Falcons Week 2 prediction: Scoreboard will run high in clash of incompetencies
Oddsmakers are saying what goes up must come down. The Panthers’ 59-37 scoragami loss to the Bears last week was a product of Caleb Williams’ duel-threat dominance inside Ben Johnson’s explosive new attack. But Bryce Young may just in fact be a franchise quarterback.He outgained Williams through the air with 361 yards and three touchdowns. Yet, the total in Carolina’s meeting with Atlanta in Week 2 is set at a low 43.5 mark. Cooper Rush will return under center after being the worst quarterback in EPA per play in the NFL.
He was so bad, that his -0.493 EPA per play was worth six points for the Steelers.He’s had a full week to work with the offense and Drake London will get more looks, but I’m not holding my breath on Rush’s improvement. What I can expect is a hefty workload from Bijan Robinson on the ground.Robinson was the only functional piece of Atlanta’s offense in the 20-13 loss, accounting for 73 percent of its offense.He collected 174 scrimmage yards that included catching eight of 10 targets.D’Andre Swift ran all over the Panthers last week for 124 yards and three touchdowns, so Robinson will be licking his chops in this one.The Falcons weren’t nearly as incompetent as the Panthers on defense, only allowing 4.1 yards per play to the Panthers’ league-worst 7.9.Carolina will be a change of pace from the Steelers’ short-passing style with Aaron Rodgers. Young threw for a franchise-record 448 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in Carolina’s 30-27 overtime win at Atlanta last season.He is 4-1 against the Falcons with 1,133 passing yards and seven touchdowns.He got everyone involved last week.
Jalen Coker caught eight passes for 138 yards and two scores and Chuba Hubbard scored both rushing and receiving touchdowns.The Panthers have every reason to win this game.The trends say otherwise, however: they haven’t won outright or covered the spread in a game they were favored since September 2021.Even though they have ...