The Atlanta Falcons close the books on week one and look ahead to their home opener. Guess who is waiting for them? Cam! The Panthers are 1-0 and their defense looks superb. Back to back weeks, the Falcons face a good team led by their defensive line. These teams typically give the Falcons trouble, but the good thing about the Panthers a divisional foe. The Falcons know they can beat the Panthers at home. In fact, the Falcons haven’t lost to Carolina at home since 2014… Yeah, that’s four years ago.

The Falcons will win this game 24-17 and I will tell you how.

If the Atlanta Falcons offensive line gives Matt Ryan time to survey the field and go through his progressions the Falcons should win convincingly. The Panther’s offense just isn’t dynamic enough to score in the upper 30s. They rely on their defense to keep the games under 20. If the Panthers find a way to keep the Falcons under 20 points this game will be close. I don’t see that happening tho. The last time the Panthers held the Falcons under 20 points at home was four years ago. Falcons offensive line must be able to control this defensive line just enough so Matt Ryan can get it to his playmakers. They know this Carolina Panthers squad so well so I think this game will come down to the wire. The Falcons can’t afford to drop to 0-2, especially not dropping an early game at home to a divisional opponent. That could haunt them later down the line. Not a must win, but a must win for the Atlanta Falcons.

Matt Ryan

Which Matt Ryan will show up this Sunday? Will it be MVP Matt? or the guy we saw Thursday that’s a legit question? Only because Matt Ryan has looked very inconsistent and quite frankly bad at times. Matt Ryan has to pick up his game. The offense is putting so much pressure on the defense to be great every series by not finishing drives with touchdowns. That starts with Ryan. Ryan typically plays well versus the Panthers, especially at home, the guy did pass for 500 yards versus them. Matt will be fine, he’s going to pick this Carolina secondary apart for three touchdowns. Matt Ryan will pass for 300 plus yards and one will be a deep ball. He will bounce back from that abysmal performance Thursday.

Calvin Ridley

Ridley finished Thursday’s game still searching for his first National Football League catch. Don’t worry young bull that catch is coming Sunday. Everyone is going to be so excited for him. Calvin Ridley is going to explode versus the  Panthers defense Sunday. Ridley’s route running will shine brightly. He’s going to bail Matt Ryan out a lot on busted plays. Ryan won’t have all day to throw because this Panther defensive line is solid and Ridley will be open a lot Sunday. There isn’t anyone that can cover the kid on the Panthers roster. The only thing that can stop the rookie is himself. Calvin has to control the drop passes, they kill momentum. Ridley will have at least seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He will catch a deep ball too… vintage Calvin Ridley.