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Charlotte turned into Shutout City, baby. The Panthers blanked the Falcons 30-0, and it felt like Dave Canales’ crew finally found its groove. Bryce Young wasn’t flashy, just clean and in command — 16/24 for 121 yards with a slick 4-yard keep for six — while the defense did the barking. Notable nugget: this was Carolina’s first shutout since 2020, and Atlanta briefly turned to Kirk Cousins late before Raheem Morris said Michael Penix Jr. remains the starter. (africa.espn.com)

Early on, the Falcons marched, but Parker Romo hooked from 49 and pushed from 55, and that door stayed wide open. Young walked through with that keeper, and rookie leg Ryan Fitzgerald boomed a 57-yarder before the break to make it 10-zip at halftime. From there, Carolina leaned on Chuba Hubbard (17 carries, 73 yards) and let the defense dictate the tempo.

The knockout punch came right after halftime when rookie corner Chau Smith‑Wade jumped a Penix swing and took it to the house. Later, Mike Jackson ripped off a long return to set up points, Rico Dowdle finished a grinder with a 1-yard TD, and Fitzgerald added two more (35, 41) to ice it. Atlanta never solved the pressure or the tackling; Penix Jr. went 18/36 for 172 yards and 2 INTs, Cousins came on late (5/7, 29 yards), and only Bijan Robinson kept the chains moving with 111 total yards. Morris said postgame they’re sticking with Penix — the rookie’s going to take his lumps. (africa.espn.com)

Big Dill of the Game: Chau Smith‑Wade. The pick-six was the pivot point, the swagger shot this defense needed, and it turned a workmanlike lead into a full-on avalanche. When the kid took it coast-to-coast, you could feel the air leave Atlanta’s sideline — that’s a momentum heist, and that’s big-dill ball.

I’m Dillon “Big Dill” Smith, and that’s your Panthers-Falcons wrap from Big Dill Sports — where ballin’ is a big dill.