What happens when a stoppable force meets a moveable object? We'll find out on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons offense takes the field against the Carolina Panthers' defense.
In Week 1, these units were pathetic, with Atlanta's only touchdown of the game against Pittsburgh coming on a catch and run by Bijan Robinson in the first quarter. Meanwhile, Carolina's expensive new defense gave up a whopping eight touchdowns and 59 points to Chicago in their season opener.
Heading into their Week 2 matchup, some folks think the Falcons can pull off an upset, but most are picking the Panthers - including four of five experts at NFL.com. Here's why Dan Parr is picking the Panthers.
"Both teams have their own crises to figure out, but as awful as Carolina’s
defense looked against the Bears -- and, yes, Ejiro Evero’s crew was inept -- I think the bigger disaster is Atlanta’s quarterback situation. If Bryce Young takes a step backward after a strong showing last week -- something that certainly can’t be ruled out -- maybe the door opens for the Falcons. It’s a shame to be wasting a group that includes Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but until I see potency from the Falcons’ offense, I’m not going to like their chances most days."
It's hard to argue the point, as the Falcons' offense is about as different from Ben Johnson's as it gets. While the Bears can beat you in countless ways, Atlanta has just one guy capable of producing - at least if it's Cooper Rush getting the ball again - and Bijan Robinson can only do so much.
Right now it seems likely Rush will start - as Tua Tagovailoa remains sidelined at practice with an oblique injury and undrafted rookie Jack Strand still hasn't worked with the first-team offense - although head coach Kevin Stefanski says he hasn't ruled out Strand starting. Take the Panthers and the points.
That means it'll either be Rush or Michael Penix - who hasn't been ruled out, either. Either way it's difficult to imagine things going well in the backfield given how few reps both of them have gotten this year.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: NFL analysts picking Panthers over Falcons for Week 2
