The Atlanta Falcons are facing the Carolina Panthers this afternoon.
The Atlanta Falcons are facing off against one of their most hated rivals this afternoon in their home opener as the Carolina Panthers arrive to town to try to spoil the party.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, they come into this game at 0-1 after an offensive disaster in Week 1 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the situation at quarterback remaining the same, it will not be easy to try to get a victory over Carolina, but there are reasons for optimism based on the way the Panthers defense was brutalized themselves in Week 1.
If the Falcons are going to have any chance to send Carolina home sad, they are going to have to hit these three keys to victory.
Continue Defensive Success From Week 1
For all the noise about the Falcons pass rush over the summer after the Jalon Walker injury and James Pearce Jr. suspension, the early returns from the first game of the season were actually extremely strong. Za'Darius Smith looked like he has turned the clock back a half decade with two sacks and looking like a wrecking ball in the backfield.
Smith and the rest of the pass rush will have to make things way more difficult for Bryce Young than they were in Week 1, and with a secondary that made things tough on future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, the recipe is there for a great game from the defense.
Avoid the Back Breaking Mistake
Atlanta was still in the game until Cooper Rush threw a horrific pick six to T.J. Watt to effectively end any chance they would be able to win. While Rush is having a lot asked of him as a guy who was signed to be the third string, he simply cannot make a play like that to spot Carolina free points.
Should he be able to avoid the massive mistake, the Falcons chances of winning go up infinitely.
Get Kyle Pitts Involved
Pitts went without a catch during Week 1, and if this offense is going to get anything going, that will have to change this afternoon. A tight end is so often a security blanket when the quarterback situation is not great, and that will have to be the case for the Atlanta passing game today.
Whether it be on short, quick routes, the Falcons should get Pitts involved early and let him get some touches. It could pay off in a big way in the fourth quarter if he's involved.
