The Panthers are starting to look like a team that can pile up points in a hurry.
After opening the 2026 season against the Chicago Bears in a Week 1 game that produced the most combined points ever in an NFL opener, Carolina turned around and hung another big number on the board in Week 2, rolling past the Falcons 34-3.
Bryce Young was at the center of it all. The Panthers quarterback completed 23 of 36 passes for 287 yards and threw three touchdown passes, spreading the ball around to four different receivers who each topped 30 receiving yards. Tet McMillian led the way with 101 yards on five catches.
That production fits the way Dave Canales says Young is growing into the offense. The Panthers head coach pointed to the quarterback’s growing command and the way he’s helping shape the details of the attack.
“I think something we talk about a lot is watching this offense become Bryce’s offense,” Canales said. “It’s so evident in the week when he’s tweaking routes, angles of cuts, and saying, “Hey, I want you flatter on this one.
Take one more revolution here. Come straight back to me or come back down your stem.”
“All these different things that are a part of our system, Bryce is fine-tuning those with the guys, and you can see the trust level, some anticipatory throws, some of that. We had one driver; we hit about three play-action shots down the field to to Coker and to those guys, and that’s just all that timing and conversations that the guys put in.”
The win also gave Carolina something it had not done since Weeks 3 and 4 of last season: score at least 30 points in consecutive games.
And while the Panthers’ offense was humming, the defense made sure Atlanta never got comfortable. The Falcons are still searching for answers on offense and at quarterback, and neither Cooper Rush nor Jack Strand reached 100 passing yards in the loss.
In Other News...
Danny Kanell Takes Another Shot At Alabama Over Weather Delay
Saturday nights Alabama-Florida State opener spent as much time in limbo as it did on the field, with multiple lightning delays forcing everyone to wait out the weather. The pauses quickly became part of the story, especially once CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell jumped on social media to question whether the second delay was really necessary. His comments tapped into a familiar chord around Alabama, where outside takes on the Tide tend to travel fast and draw even faster reaction.
The bigger issue, though, was the standard being applied, not the optics of the moment. Weather professionals later stepped in to explain how lightning-related suspensions are handled, underscoring that these calls are made with safety in mind rather than on a feel test from the stands or a television studio. For Alabama, it was one more odd wrinkle in a season opener that already had enough drama before anyone could settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An Early SEC Reality Check In New AP Poll
The AP top 25 shifted in a big way entering Week 4, and the SEC made its usual presence felt. Ole Miss got a major lift by beating LSU, a result that sharpened its case as a real contender in the league race, while Florida played its way into the rankings after a win at Auburn. Around the conference, the weekend reminded everyone how quickly the pecking order can change once league play starts to bite.
For Alabama, the new poll offered an early reality check on how unforgiving the SEC can be once the schedule toughens. Texas A&M took a hit after a loss to Kentucky, a setback that raised more questions about the Aggies consistency on both sides of the ball, and the broader movement around the rankings underscored how little margin separates the conferences top teams from the ones trying to chase them. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Defensive Turnaround Put One Wommack Question Front And Center
Yhonzae Pierre was one of the players who helped Alabama settle in after a rocky start against Florida State, finishing with five tackles in the Crimson Tides 50-36 win. The linebacker pointed to defensive coordinator Kane Wommacks halftime message as a key reset, with the emphasis on staying united and keeping the energy up when the game was still hanging in the balance.
The second-half response was noticeable enough that head coach Kalen DeBoer singled out the defenses improvement, and that puts Wommacks role in an interesting light as Alabama moves deeper into the season. The Tide got the result they needed, but the bigger question now is whether that halftime adjustment was a one-game fix or the first sign of a defense finding its footing. [Read more 🡒]