Panthers vs. Falcons Week 2 Betting Odds, Prediction and Picks: Who Starts at QB for Atlanta?
The big question entering the NFL Week 2 matchup Sunday from the NFC South between the Panthers and Falcons is who starts at quarterback for host Atlanta. The Falcons are +1.5 underdogs on the NFL odds with a total of 44.5.
Panthers vs. Falcons Kickoff, Weather, TV, Streaming Info
We have no weather concerns for this 1 p.m. ET kick Sunday from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta as it has a retractable roof that is rarely open. FOX has the national telecast in the USA, and it’s available for streaming on FOX One.
For Canadians, the game is available to stream on DAZN through NFL Game Pass, which carries every NFL regular-season game in Canada. Select Sunday afternoon games are also shown on CTV, although regional availability can vary.
NFL Betting Odds, Point Spread, Trends
The NFC South has probably been the NFL’s weakest overall division the past few seasons with Carolina claiming it last year at 8-9. It looks like more of the same in 2026 and it may well only take another eight victories. The Panthers are currently +335 to win it and Falcons +380.
Carolina swept the 2025 season series, including 30-27 in overtime in Atlanta. Bryce Young passed for a team-record 448 yards along with three touchdowns. Tetairoa McMillan caught eight of those passes for 130 yards and two scores. Zane Gonzalez kicked a 45-yard field goal for Atlanta with 16 seconds remaining to force overtime. The Falcons used both Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins at QB that day. Cousins is now with the Raiders. The rematch this season is Week 18.
NFL Player Odds and Props
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is a touchdown machine so I like him for an anytime score. He had the team’s only score in Week 1 on a TD reception from Cooper Rush. Canadian tailback Chuba Hubbard is an anytime TD option for Carolina. The Edmonton native had a rushing and receiving score in the Week 1 loss to Chicago.
Carolina Panthers
If you would have told a Panthers fan that their team was going to score 37 points at home in Week 1, they likely would have assumed a victory — but Carolina was pummeled by Chicago, 59-37. Those were the most points scored overall in a Week 1 game in NFL history and you can imagine the focus in Carolina practice this week will be on the defence – especially against the run. Chicago ran 39 times for 291 yards, a whopping 7.5 yards per carry. The Panthers also had three turnovers that led to 17 Bears points. The Carolina offence looked just fine, with Bryce Young throwing for 361 yards and three scores and rushing for a touchdown. Edmonton native Chuba Hubbard had a TD rush and catch. Wideout Jalen Coker rolled his ankle during the first quarter but played through it and had a career-best 138 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions. Coker expects to play this week. Carolina also needs to clean up penalties after 11 for 84 yards in the loss. One negated an Interception.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were perhaps the most unfortunate team in Week 1 with both No. 1 quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and No. 2 Michael Penix Jr. out injured. Career journeyman backup Cooper Rush got the call in Pittsburgh in a 20-13 loss, throwing the game-clinching pick-six early in the fourth. Atlanta managed 238 total yards. Star tailback Bijan Robinson totaled 173 of those and the one TD. Rush himself wasn’t 100 per cent dealing with back spasms. Is this Week 1 or Week 18? Tagovailoa won the job out of camp but injured an oblique last Thursday in practice. Penix is working his way back from a torn ACL. We may not know this week’s starter until Friday. Defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand suffered a season-ending injury in the defeat. Starting right guard Chris Lindstrom will enter into the league’s concussion protocol after leaving the game in the second quarter.
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