Intriguing players to watch in Falcons vs. Panthers

After a disappointing Week 1 loss, the Atlanta Falcons return home to clash against NFC South rival Carolina Panthers. The winner will get an early lead in the division, and it sets up perfectly for the Falcons to have a “get-right” game.

Most of the intrigue in this matchup comes from getting back on track, as several established Falcons stars look to rebound and several newcomers look to impress in front of the home crowd. We’re naming five Falcons to watch this Sunday.

The Falcons need more from Drake London, who was targeted only four times in the team’s debut. His workload should be at least double that, given that he’s now among the NFL’s highest-paid wideouts. Fortunately, London historically shines against the Panthers.

He has 38 catches, 435 yards, and 3 touchdowns in his last four outings against Carolina. If the Falcons can’t get him going against this Panthers secondary that he usually shines against, it may raise questions about whether this investment will pay off.

Another player who is due for a bounce-back game after a disappointing Week 1 performance is left tackle Jake Matthews, who earned the lowest PFF grade since his rookie season in 2014. Matthews gave up two sacks and drew a holding call, raising questions about whether the 34-year-old has lost a step.

However, Matthews has usually played well against the Panthers lately, earning PFF grades of 69 or higher in his last five matchups.

Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith did not disappoint in his 2026 debut, tallying two sacks. Both takedowns came when Smith rushed from the left side of the defense against the opposing team’s right tackle.

If he keeps getting similar opportunities this week against Carolina, he’ll be squaring off against rookie right tackle Monroe Freeling. This is a golden opportunity for Smith to baptize Freeling and give him a not-so-warm welcome to the NFL.

No one benefits more from Smith’s steady pressure than rookie cornerback Avieion Terrell. He’ll be facing a tough test in Week 2, going up against Panthers wideouts Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan. Coker is Carolina’s primary slot option and is coming off an impressive two-touchdown performance in Week 1. However, McMillan has done plenty of damage specifically against the Falcons when operating from the slot.

According to PFF, McMillan averaged 4.9 yards per route run from the slot against the Falcons, while averaging just 1.4 yards per route run against all other opportunities last season. Terrell has his work cut out for him against this double whammy. But if he can slow down both Coker and McMillan, it’ll do wonders for his confidence and the team’s hopes that he will grow into the transformative presence in the nickel they envisioned.

Falcons kicker Nick Folk hasn’t missed a kick indoors since 2015, and that streak needs to continue as he makes his debut in Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a disappointing Week 1, when he missed two field goals. Folk has been the NFL’s most accurate kicker for the last few seasons and was signed to solidify a troublesome Falcons kicking spot. If he has more uncharacteristic misses this week, it’ll look like the Falcons’ kicking troubles are here to stay.

If these five players’ performance matches the level of intrigue, the Falcons will be in prime position to claim an early lead in the NFC South.

Can you name any more Falcons who intrigue you in this matchup?