The Carolina Panthers found themselves in a hole to start the season, but quickly showed what they were capable of on Sunday.

Carolina shut down the Atlanta Falcons during its home opener by the score of 30-0, that featured a pick-six from Chau Smith-Wade and another interception from Mike Jackson.

Bryce Young played an effective game, completing 67% of his passes – most of it in short bursts since he only amassed 121 passing yards – but it was an effective game from the former Heisman winner nonetheless.

However, even though it was a total blowout win against a division arrival, it just wasn’t enough for one member of the defense.

Defensive tackle Derrick Brown was a missing presence for the Panthers last season. 

The Pro Bowl lineman only played in the first game of the season before going down mid game with a meniscus injury that took him out for the duration of the season, and it allowed running backs to wreak havoc on the Panthers. Because of that, Carolina ranked last in rushing yards allowed – and it wasn’t close.

With Brown back in the first three games of the season, the Panthers are ranking 26th in rushing yards allowed, allowing 40 yards less per game.

It’s not eye-popping, but they’ll take all the wins they can get.

After the win on Sunday, Brown wasn’t satisfied one bit about how well the defense fared. In fact, he acknowledged that the team has a target on its back in regards to poor performance.

“It’s fools gold, because you can’t win one game and go to the playoffs. For us to get this [win], it’s a testament to how hard we worked this week. So now we got to do it all over again or they’ll be talking bad about you next week,” he said with a chuckle.

In his Pro Bowl season, Brown was a force in the interior as the ultimate disruptor. Carolina was a lot better in stopping the run, ranking 22nd and Brown was second on the team in total tackles, compiling 103 and 57 solo tackles. Along with that, he registered 15 quarterback hits, seven tackles for loss, and an interception.

All Carolina needed was a growth year. It wasn’t going to be a playoff contender overnight. But after 2023, all the Panthers could do was go up.

And with Brown’s leadership, that’s where he intends to take them.