North Charlotte Today

The Carolina Panthers will face the Atlanta Falcons this week as they return to their home field in Charlotte. The Panthers, currently holding a 1-4 record, are set to compete against the Falcons, who stand at 3-2 and are tied for first place in the NFC South. The Falcons recently enjoyed a victory over the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football during Week 5.

Historically, the Panthers have struggled against the Falcons with an all-time record of 22-36. At home, Carolina holds a slightly better record of 14-15 but has faced significant challenges on the road with an 8-22 record. Notably, Carolina has never won in overtime against Atlanta.

The Falcons' notable offseason acquisition was quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins joined from the Minnesota Vikings after recovering from an Achilles injury that ended his previous season prematurely. In five games this season, Cousins has completed 119 out of 177 passes for a total of 1,373 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions. His favorite target is wide receiver Drake London, who has recorded 32 receptions for 354 yards and three touchdowns so far.

Defensively, the Falcons rely on safety Jessie Bates III and pass rusher Matthew Judon to anchor their efforts. Bates leads his team with three passes defended and ranks third with 37 tackles this season. Meanwhile, Judon joined from New England Patriots and has contributed with pressures on opposing quarterbacks.

Kicker Younghoe Koo remains a reliable asset for Atlanta's special teams unit. This season he is successful on twelve out of fourteen field goal attempts including impressive performances from beyond fifty yards.