The Falcons opened with less than a touchdown, but it’s no surprise that the spread has widened considering the show they put on on Thursday Night Football and how the Panthers defense looked against Chicago. Add to that the fact that linebacker Shaq Thompson is out for the year and Carolina seems like a dream fit for Kirk Cousins ​​and Atlanta.

Cousins, who just set the franchise record for passing yards in a single game with 509, is among the league’s best when he has a clean pocket. Only Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen have a better EPA, and the 36-year-old has 975 yards, eight touchdowns and no picks when off pressure. Under duress he is a danger. After pressure dropbacks, Cousins ​​has made five picks and his QB rating plummets to 42.8. The problem for Carolina is that they cannot apply pressure. They are 23rd in the league there. That ranking drops to 28th when they blitz and they are arguably worse than when Thompson is not on the field.

This is exactly the type of defense that allows Cousins ​​to thrive, keeping the Falcons’ bloodless running game from being overexposed.

The good thing for Andy Dalton and his offense is that Atlanta’s pass rush won’t hinder him much either. The Falcons are in last place in both pockets and the pressure is on despite being fourth in the league. Dalton should have no trouble moving the ball between the 20s with Diontae Johnson and his other young wideouts, especially with Chuba Hubbard facing a soft defense.

But the Falcons defense tightens things up in the red zone, allowing just nine TDs in 73 raids. The Panthers are among the worst at finishing drives, with just six touchdowns in 36 trips inside the opponent’s 20. When the overheats drop, expect Atlanta to do the bulk of the work.

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Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Odds

How to watch Falcons at Panthers

• Location: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte
• Time: 4:25 PM ET Sunday
• TV: FOX
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial)

Expert picks for Falcons at Panthers

Read more about NFL Week 6

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(Photo of Darnell Mooney: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)