# Panthers vs Falcons predictions, graded

Week 2, 2026: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Sep 20, 2026 · final: Panthers 34, Falcons 3 · 18 calls on record · updated Sep 30, 9:20 AM ET

Who do pundits pick in Panthers vs Falcons? Of 14 pundits with a call on record, 13 take the Panthers and 1 takes the Falcons. 7 named a score; the median has the Panthers by 7. The Panthers won 34-3, so 13 of 14 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 71 out of 100.

Picks by outlet. Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.

- [Sports Illustrated](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated): all 6 Panthers
- [CBS Sports](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports): Falcons 1, Panthers 1
- [Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast)](https://missedtakes.co/outlets/chris-simms-unbuttoned-podcast): all 2 Panthers

The other 4 pundits write or talk elsewhere: all 4 Panthers.

Page: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-2-panthers-at-falcons

Picks:

- [Seth Walder](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/seth-walder) took the Panthers; said Sep 20, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/61d68b2a-468b-44a5-b949-a6b152bbafc0
- [Pamela Maldonado](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pamela-maldonado) took the Panthers; said Sep 20, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/738530b5-6f35-4dc3-95f4-716358983f8a
- [Eric Moody](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/eric-moody) took the Panthers; said Sep 20, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8781a68b-56d0-4cd0-bf58-b7791e174082
- [Jerry Jones](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/jerry-jones) took the Panthers, Panthers 27–Falcons 16; said Sep 20, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 52.38 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/12652a3a-c719-4206-a93b-f5b8ebc09beb
- [Garrett Chapman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/garrett-chapman) took the Panthers, Panthers 23–Falcons 20; said Sep 20, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 50 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5be072b2-97fa-40f2-999b-b1007f18e933
- [Scott Kennedy](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/scott-kennedy) took the Panthers, Panthers 24–Falcons 13; said Sep 20, 2026; on Sports Illustrated; scored 52.38 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c0be929d-8c00-4148-b8d0-968b34e5d510
- [Nick Wright](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/nick-wright) took the Panthers; said Sep 19, 2026; on What's Wright? with Nick Wright (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2cdeee40-89bf-46f1-b5a1-1a2511dc01cd
- [Connor Rogers](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/connor-rogers) took the Panthers; said Sep 18, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/0c2a0048-cb74-4da9-8ef4-695cc6571cdf
- [Chris Simms](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/chris-simms) took the Panthers, Panthers 21–Falcons 17; said Sep 18, 2026; on Chris Simms Unbuttoned (podcast); scored 50 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32db5f5e-13da-47e3-b280-2aa9a80d172b
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Falcons, Falcons 21–Panthers 17; said Sep 18, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/49ffcfc9-5f68-4882-a86f-b835b925412d
- [Pete Prisco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/pete-prisco) took the Falcons, Falcons 21–Panthers 17; said Sep 18, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 0 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/29185ff4-dec4-498f-aa45-4ca2d72dcbe3
- [Tony Fusco](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/tony-fusco) took the Panthers, Panthers 30–Falcons 7; said Sep 17, 2026; on Fox Sports Radio (podcast); scored 80.95 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/84c5d696-88f5-4b4d-9990-706a1698baa5
- [Richard Sherman](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/richard-sherman) took the Panthers; said Sep 17, 2026; on The Richard Sherman Podcast (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/8a2c5da4-3fba-43d7-82eb-dc25b81f245e
- [John Breech](https://missedtakes.co/pundits/john-breech) took the Panthers, Panthers 24–Falcons 17; said Sep 15, 2026; on CBS Sports; scored 50 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0) — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/eb6d274b-c294-4c3d-ba42-d3dee06c6e87
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) took the Panthers; said Aug 28, 2026; on The Rich Eisen Show (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0)
- The Rich Eisen Show (podcast) took the Panthers; said Aug 28, 2026; on The Rich Eisen Show (podcast); scored 100 out of 100 (the naive pick scored 0)

## How they came in

The Panthers are 0-1; the Falcons are 0-1. It is a division game. On win totals, 12 pundits put the Panthers at 7.4 wins on average, and 9 pundits put the Falcons at 6.1 wins on average.

Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

- Carolina Panthers: 0-1 (37 scored, 59 allowed)
  - Last games: L 37-59 vs Bears
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 13th, defense 28th of 32
  - Last season: 8-9
  - Win-total calls: 13 pundits, average 7.4, 2 to 17 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 1 of 1 Panthers game
- Atlanta Falcons: 0-1 (13 scored, 20 allowed)
  - Last games: L 13-20 at Steelers
  - Unit ranks this season: offense 20th, defense 20th of 32
  - Last season: 8-9
  - Win-total calls: 9 pundits, average 6.1, 2 to 9 wins
  - The side most pundits took won 1 of 1 Falcons game

## Players to watch

Each club's starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit ranked on the leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick, made since the 2026 schedule came out ("No." is that rank). Leaderboard: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/leaderboard

- [Bryce Young](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bryce-young) (Starting QB, QB): 2,197 passing yards · 16 TD, 6 INT · 60.4% completions · 8 games; 8th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 5 Tom Pelissero, Jul 17, 2026: Bryce Young: a roster call with no direction stated (not settled yet)
  - No. 36 Chris Brockman, Oct 5, 2026: Bryce Young to finish top 8 at his position, by an unstated measure (not settled yet)
- [Chuba Hubbard](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/chuba-hubbard) (RB1, RB): 619 rushing yards on 134 carries · 7 TD · 26 catches for 167 · 8 games; 10th in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 20, 2026: Chuba Hubbard to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 17, 2026: Chuba Hubbard to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Tetairoa McMillan](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/tetairoa-mcmillan) (WR1, WR): 46 catches for 625 yards · 3 TD · 8 games; 14th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Aug 8, 2026: Tetairoa McMillan to outplay his draft cost (Round 3) (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 1, 2026: Tetairoa McMillan to fall short of his draft cost (a top 20 wide receiver price tag) (not settled yet)
- [Darren Waller](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/darren-waller) (TE1, TE): 23 catches for 299 yards · 4 TD · 8 games; 67th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 18 Carter Bahns, Aug 28, 2026: Darren Waller to be cut (scored 0 out of 100)
- [Princely Umanmielen](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/princely-umanmielen) (Sack leader, LB): 3 sacks · 12 solo tackles · 8 games; 51st in the NFL in sacks
- [Devin Lloyd](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/devin-lloyd) (Tackle leader, LB): 2 sacks · 31 solo tackles · 2 interceptions · 7 games; 45th in the NFL in solo tackles
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Sep 23, 2026: Devin Lloyd to win Defensive Player of the Year (not settled yet)
- [Michael Penix Jr.](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/michael-penix-jr) (Starting QB, QB): 1,444 passing yards · 10 TD, 6 INT · 62.3% completions · 7 games; 26th in the NFL in passing yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 21, 2026: Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
  - No. 10 Shanna McCarriston, Sep 10, 2026: Michael Penix Jr. to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Bijan Robinson](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/bijan-robinson) (RB1, RB): 880 rushing yards on 169 carries · 6 TD · 31 catches for 250 · 9 games; 1st in the NFL in rushing yards
  - No. 4 Bryan DeArdo, Oct 10, 2026: Bijan Robinson to record 1,361 rushing yards (not settled yet)
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 7, 2026: Bijan Robinson to finish top 2 at his position, by fantasy points (not settled yet)
- [Drake London](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/drake-london) (WR1, WR): 44 catches for 692 yards · 1 TD · 9 games; 8th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 12 Derek Brown, Sep 26, 2026: He's wide receiver one. Where you want to put him in wide receiver one is fine by me. (not settled yet)
  - No. 30 Andrew Erickson, Sep 16, 2026: Drake London to be 1st on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Kyle Pitts](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kyle-pitts) (TE1, TE): 25 catches for 220 yards · 4 TD · 9 games; 113th in the NFL in receiving yards
  - No. 8 Pat Fitzmaurice, Sep 5, 2026: Kyle Pitts to be 2nd on the depth chart (not settled yet)
- [Za'Darius Smith](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/za-darius-smith) (Sack leader, DE): 4.5 sacks · 6 solo tackles · 6 games; 22nd in the NFL in sacks
- [Kendal Daniels](https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/kendal-daniels) (Tackle leader, LB): 1 sack · 40 solo tackles · 1 interception · 9 games; 8th in the NFL in solo tackles

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The room is counted in pundits, each one's latest call standing. Accuracy is out of 100; the naive pick is the home team.
The week: https://missedtakes.co/nfl/games/2026-week-2
Method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology