5 things we learned about the Carolina Panthers in Week 1

Carolina Panthers can benefit from Atlanta’s continued dysfunction

One obvious takeaway from Week 1 for the Carolina Panthers is the fact they are sitting in a three-way tie with the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South division lead.

The Atlanta Falcons are the only team in the division that didn’t win during the opening weekend and appears to pose little threat to the Panthers.

If Atlanta doesn’t undergo some radical changes in the weeks to come the Panthers can circle two more wins on their schedule.

Atlanta lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 32-6 and for the Carolina fans that watched they know just how poorly this team played in a defeat that could have been a lot uglier.

This is more good news for the Panthers and their fans who still have Tom Brady and a surprisingly resurgent Saints team to deal with in their own division in pursuit of a surprise playoff berth.

Carolina was clearly better than Atlanta in Week 1 and if both teams were to stay in this form, it would give Matt Rhule’s men a fighting chance of attaining two important victories.

The Panthers get their first shot at Atlanta in Week 8 on the road. The same place the Falcons were just blown out by a rebuilding Eagles team led by Jalen Hurts.