By Cameron Lee
September 21, 2025
Photo: Rusty Jones / AP
Without two key players on the offensive line — Robert Hunt (torn bicep) and Austin Corbett (left knee) — the Panthers delivered their best defensive performance in recent years, shutting out the Falcons 30-0, getting their first win of the season.
From the opening drive — a nine-play, 61-yard series capped by a four-yard touchdown scramble from Bryce Young — the Panthers controlled the game from the first snap.
The offense struck a balance, with Chuba Hubbard finishing the day with 17 carries for 73 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and Rico Dowdle adding 30 yards and a touchdown.
Young looked poised, avoiding the early mistakes that plagued him in the first two games of the season. While he threw for just 121 yards after last week’s career-high 328 against the Cardinals, he played mistake-free football thanks in large part to solid protection and an excellent game plan from Dave Canales.
The defense, however, stole the spotlight. Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. looked flustered, throwing two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown by Chau Smith-Wade, and another by Mike Jackson to halt a fourth-down drive late in the third quarter, which he returned 54 yards.
Chau was ballin’ pic.twitter.com/6hEXBQXpac
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 21, 2025
Though the Panthers didn’t record a sack, they created pressure on Penix by sending Trevor Moehrig on a blitz, mixing fronts featuring Derrick Brown, Princely Umanmielen, DJ Wonnum, and Nic Scourton. Brown also made his presence felt by leveling Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson on a key hit early in the game.
“When you have a chance to score in every phase, you give yourself a great chance to win. I thought the defense played an unbelievable game,” said Canales postgame. “The run game plan, the execution, the communication, all that stuff that we’ve been really just harping on, is where we really have to continue to grow.”
Special teams were solid, aside from a muffed punt by rookie running back Trevor Etienne, who was replaced by veteran wide receiver David Moore afterward. Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald remained perfect on the season, drilling three field goals — a 57-yarder in the first quarter, a 35-yarder in the third, and a 41-yarder in the fourth.
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It marked the Panthers’ first shutout since November 22, 2020, when they blanked the Detroit Lions 20-0.
After opening the season with two straight losses, the outlook now feels far more promising. Next week, they’ll travel to New England to face Drake Maye and the 1-2 Patriots.
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