Carolina Panthers: Top takeaways from Week 2 loss to Atlanta Falcons

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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 16: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons drops back to pass during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Panthers’ defensive line gets pushed around

One of the biggest takeaways from this game will be how badly the Panthers’ defensive line lost the battle in the trenches. The team finished the game allowing the Falcons’ rushing attack to average 5.3 yards per rush and it was the first time in the last 22 games, that an opposing running back ran for over 100 yards (Tevin Coleman finished with 107).

However, it was the lack of pass rush that was really surprising. This defense has been known for it’s ability to get pressure on the quarterback. They finished last year with the third most sacks in the NFL and had six sacks against the Cowboys.

Week 2 though was a different story as the Panthers had no sacks and only two QB hurries. The lack of pass rush clearly played into Matt Ryan’s ability to pick apart this secondary as he had time in the pocket to find the open receiver as the play developed.

The track record this defense has, this game should be chalked up to a bad game but is something worth watching in the coming weeks.

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