NFL
By: Greg Rector
The Carolina Panthers come down to Atlanta to face the Atlanta Falcons in what should be an entertaining game to open the 2023 NFL season. Why do I say this matchup should be interesting? That’s really because I want to see Bryce Young start for the Panthers and we football fans especially those who are fantasy football fans want to see Bijan Robinson perform too. Let’s look more closely at this game.
Carolina Panthers Offense Versus the Atlanta Falcons Defense
Bryce Young the number one overall draft pick comes to Atlanta with three new wide receivers in town. Adam Theilen (Minnesota) DJ Chark (Detroit) and rookie Jonathan Mingo. Along with the new receivers the Panthers also have Miles Sanders (Philadelphia) at running back. The Panthers also signed veteran Hayden Hurst as their tight end. It’s an interesting mix and we shall see how they can perform on Sunday against a Falcons defense.
It will be interesting to see if the Panthers can move the football down the field against what should be a very stout Falcons defense. I expect Bryce Young to try to find Theilen as often as possible to move the ball safely down the field. How Miles Sanders plays will be a key for the Carolina Panthers as well. Sanders was an effective back for the Eagles in the passing game and he will need to be an outlet Young can also use.
Carolina Panthers season loading…pic.twitter.com/i83KztxnQ4
— =͟͟͞Blande (@JustBlande) August 29, 2023
The Atlanta Falcons were busy in the off-season, especially on the defensive side of the football in free agency. They signed one of the best safeties in the game Jessie Bates and they added Jeff Okudah from the Detroit Lions as they pray Okudah can remain healthy and can finally contribute. This Falcons defense also added some real beef up front as they signed Calais Campbell and David Onyemata so they definitely will be an improved defense from last season.
Carolina Panthers Defense Versus the Atlanta Falcons Offense
The Carolina Panthers’ strength right now does indeed sit with the defense. Signing two new safeties Vonn Bell (Cincinnati) and Xavier Woods (Minnesota) to their secondary to play alongside Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson the Panthers’ secondary is above average in terms of talent.
How often the Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder throws the football should be cause for alarm for fantasy football owners who have tight end Kyle Pitts and Drake London as head coach Arthur Smith has been insistent on running the football plenty of times. The Falcons ran the football 559 times to lead the NFL in the 2022 NFL season. Since they drafted Bijan Robinson in the first round of the recent NFL draft I expect coach Smith to be running the ball down the opposing team’s throats yet again.
21 NFL Executives were polled about who they believe will be the best rookie in the NFL this season, via @jeffphowe #Falcons RB Bijan Robinson won most of the votes#Panthers QB Bryce Young received three votes and #Eagles DT Jalen Carter received 2.
Other players who… pic.twitter.com/qsqSchvuMS
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 5, 2023
Derrick Brown the Panthers tremendous DT will be a busy man on Sunday. DE Deshaun Williams signed away from the Broncos might not get to rush the passer very often and will need to be ready to stop the run. The Carolina Panthers also signed Frankie Luvu and Justin Houston to play linebacker in their 3-4 defense and they will be busy trying to stop Bijan Robinson Tyler Allgeirer and the ever-popular Cordelle Patterson.
My Prediction
I have the Atlanta Falcons winning this game by a score of 24 to 14. I’m a believer in Bryce Young and truly feel that with the offensive minds he has at his disposal on the sideline he will be an effective quarterback just not in week one. I firmly believe this NFC South game is going to be a battle the Atlanta Falcons will win simply because they have so many more weapons and weapons they are more tested as far as having played together for a longer period of time.
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