The Atlanta Falcons were embarrassed in their home opener by the Carolina Panthers.
The Atlanta Falcons were absolutely destroyed 34-3 by the Carolina Panthers in their Week 2 home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday.
While the quarterback situation did not have many holding out hope, things were as bad as they possibly could have been for Atlanta and only got worse as the game went on. From the moment the team came out of the tunnel and Cooper Rush was booed by the home fans, the game took an ugly turn and did not look back from there. Rush turned the ball over three times before undrafted rookie Jack Strand finally got his shot only to throw a pick six on the his first career throw.
Just as he has been the last several times these two teams have faced off, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looked sensational and absolutely tortured the Falcons defense. Young finished with 23 completions for 287 yards and three touchdowns, meanwhile Rush finished 10 of 17 for 86 yards and two picks.
Strand meanwhile was 8 of 15 for 59 yards and the pick six in what was just an absolutely brutal afternoon for Atlanta offensively. Converting just four of 13 times on third down, there was simply not a whole lot to hang their hat with the ball in their hands.
The Falcons under Kevin Stefanski have now dropped to 0-2 and find themselves in an early hole ahead of their three straight primetime gauntlet here over the next three weeks
While Michael Penix Jr. may be back this week, he is returning to circumstances which are already somewhat of a disaster and Atlanta absolutely desperate for an early season victory. Generally speaking, this is not usually a recipe for success, but perhaps the return of Penix could provide the offense the kind of jolt it so clearly needs.
The first two weeks of the season have been some of the most putrid showings on this side of the ball fans have ever had to sit through, and they absolutely deserve better. Whether or not they are going to get it in short order is the million dollar question, but those same fans have every right to be angry right now.
Stefanski had better get this team playing a whole lot better and fast if he wants to stay in the good graces of the fanbase. It's never fun to lose, but being embarrassed by your rival on your home field is downright unacceptable.
