The Falcons’ big win over the Vikings on Sunday Night Football was just what the doctor ordered, especially considering their tough schedule ahead. A road conference victory in prime time is always a great boost, but for this team, it was crucial to avoid an 0-2 start.
Now, they’re heading into a divisional game against the Panthers, which on paper looks like one of the easier matchups on their schedule. The Panthers have had a rough start to the season, and the Falcons really need to take advantage of that. Historically, though, the Panthers have always managed to get at least one win over the Falcons, even when they’re having a bad season. Atlanta can’t let that happen this time around, not if they’re serious about making a playoff push.
If the Falcons can beat the Panthers in Week 3, they’ll be sitting pretty at 2-1, which is actually a better start than they had last season through three games. They’ll have given themselves some much-needed breathing room before heading into a tough stretch against the Commanders, Bills, and 49ers. And who knows, if they can get past the Panthers, they might even be looking at a 3-1 start, which would be a huge confidence booster.
Beating the Panthers would also be a nice bit of revenge for the Falcons, who lost to them in Week 18 last season. It would bring their all-time record against the Panthers to 38-23, which is a nice little bonus. And if the Buccaneers beat the Jets, as expected, the Falcons would at least keep pace with them, staying just one game back of the division lead.
On the other hand, if the Falcons lose to the Panthers, they’ll be in a world of trouble. They’ll be 1-2 with two division losses, and it’ll be an uphill battle from there. The Buccaneers will likely be 2-0, and the Falcons will be a full two games back in the division. They’ll have to win at least one of their next three games to stay in contention, and even that might not be enough. A 1-5 start would pretty much be the kiss of death.
And to make matters worse, a Panthers win would be their first back-to-back victories over the Falcons since 2014-2015. So, the Falcons have a lot on the line in this one. They need to come out on top and set themselves up for success in the tough games ahead.
