The Carolina Panthers were able to win their first game of the 2025 NFL season thanks to an impressive defensive performance against the Atlanta Falcons in week three.

After two-straight losses to kick off the 2025 NFL season, the Carolina Panthers were able to land in the win column in week three, defeating the Atlanta Falcons in dominant fashion.

Despite Carolina putting up 30 points in the contest, the offense was not the primary facilitator for  the victory on Sunday. Quarterback Bryce Young threw for just 121 yards while collecting one rushing touchdown, and the Panthers' running back duo of Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle combined for 103 rushing yards.

Instead, it was the defense that led the organization to the big victory.

Led by defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Carolina managed to hold one of the best rushing attacks in the league to 131 rushing yards, with star running back Bijan Robinson accounting for 72 yards. This forced the Falcons to rely on quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who ultimately threw for 172 yards and two interceptions in the contest.

When asked about the defensive performance and Evero, head coach Dave Canales revealed his trust in his defensive coordinator to reporters on Monday.

"Communication, execution. This is a defense that I've coached against for years, and the defense, by principals, is to try to eliminate explosive [plays], and you have to rally up," Canales stated. "If you are playing to eliminate explosive [plays], you have to rally up and show up in the run game, and you have to be disciplined with how you fit. So that means everybody has to be locked in, and I know that Ejiro and his staff, they have the answers."

The Panthers' game plan of getting out to a quick start and putting the ball in Penix's hands proved to be successful on Sunday. But surprisingly, the defense did not record a single sack in the matchup. While the defense struggled to get after Penix, it was the secondary unit that stepped up on Sunday.

Cornerback Mike Jackson played one of his best games in week three, finishing with one interception and a defensive grade of 79.9, according to PFF. In addition to Jackson, second-year defensive back Chau Smith-Wade also recorded an interception that was taken back for a touchdown.

Sunday's victory over a division rival could be a huge turning point for Evero and Carolina's defense for the rest of the season. In the team's first two games of the 2025 season, the defense allowed an average of 335.5 total offensive yards and 26.5 points per game. But week three showed fans what this defense is truly capable of with Evero calling the plays.

Now, the focal point for the Panthers' defense moving forward will be addressing the pass rush. As a unit, Carolina ranks last in sacks across the entire league with just one. The defense's inability to create pressure against quarterbacks played a huge factor in the first two games of the season, and will have to continue to grow throughout the course of this year.