What Dave Canales said after Carolina Panthers’ dominant win over the Falcons
The first pick-six since 2023.
The first shutout since 2020.
And probably the best showing of the Dave Canales era.
Those three notes encapsulate the Carolina Panthers’ 30-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Bank of America Stadium — one that saw two interceptions and only one lost turnover, a perfect kicking display and no game management or operational issues.
It was decisive, dominant — and to the pretty rollicking fans in Bank of America Stadium ... delightful.
Bryce Young finished his day 16 of 24 for 121 yards and a passer rating of 78.6; he also added one rushing touchdown. On the ground he was helped by Chuba Hubbard, who finished with 17 attempts for 73 yards, and Rico Dowdle, who finished with 10 attempts for 30 yards and a touchdown. Leading receivers for the Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan (three receptions, 48 yards), Tommy Tremble (two, 16), Brycen Tremayne (two, 15) and JT Sanders (two, 11).
The Panthers (1-2) beat the Falcons (1-2), no doubt. But in many ways the Falcons beat themselves. There were special teams hiccups — including two missed field goals on the first two drives — and one clock management issue at the end of the first half that yielded no points despite ending the half right outside the red zone.
Falcons quarterback Michael Penix also had a rough day — 18 of 36 for 172 yards and two interceptions — and was replaced by Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter as a result.
Canales answered to all of this after the win. Here’s a recap of what he said in the postgame press conference.
Opening statement
“When you have the chance score in every phase, you give yourself a great chance to win. I thought the defense played an unbelieveable game. The run game plan, the execution, the communication. All that stuff that we’ve been really harping on is where we have to continue to grow. There were still a couple of things that we need to clean up from a defensive standpoint.
“But to take advantage of some of those opportunities with Chau Smith-Wade with the touchdown, Mike Jackson with the interception, and then the punch-out with the end. It’s just a form of habits. It’s what we’re trying to get done in practice: the more attempts we get on the ball, eventually you can get one out there.
“So I was really proud of the group.”
More on Ryan Fitzgerald kicking game, offense
“How about Ryan Fitzgerald? Not just the field goals and PATs, but I really thought he impacted the game with how he kicked the ball on kickoffs. He gave us some amazing field position, some different kicks that gave him some issues. Getting the ball on the ground in the landing zone.
“And then offensively, I thought we had some good rhythm going. If you look at the stats, our penalties put us in some unfavorable third downs. And we weren’t able to convert some of the longer ones. So I thought we made it harder on us. But coming out of it, 2-for-3 in the red zone was really good execution and finish by the guys.”
Impact of having a clean, mistake-free start for Panthers
“It felt great. It felt great to be in Bank of America Stadium with our fans. I felt the support. You look around, and it was all Panthers fans. There was a sprinkling of the Falcons group that came, as close as we are. But I know the guys feed off of that. I saw it happen last week on the road and tried to remind the guys: we bring the juice, we’re the ones who have to get this started. And then it’s infectious. So I just love that.
“In the third quarter, you know, it was loud on third down. That’s an advantage for our rush. That’s an advantage for putting pressure on the offense. They were felt today.”
Did the defense turn a corner last week, and did it spill into Falcons game?
“It felt like glimpses of what I saw the first two games — we hadn’t done that for a full, complete game. And today it showed up. Outside of the four-minute one there, we’d love to not be able to let them run the ball like that. ... These are our calls, and these are our fits. We just gotta make sure these guys finish with execution.”
Emphasis on special teams
“Everyone’s got a role on game day. With how many people you get, the obvious guys who have been making impacts, with Brycen Tremayne and Thomas Incoom, I think you see Claudin Cherelus making plays out there. Dalevon Campbell was up for his first NFL game, and did a heck of a job as a gunner, and really showed us what he can do. And that’s what I look for in any phase: How can you help us? How can you help the team. And that’s what you were able to see there.”
On Canales’ postgame demeanor
“I’m a little punchy. Calling plays will do that to you. Even last week, going 90 plays on offense, (offensive coordinator Brad Idzik) and I, we were talking in between series, and I expect execution. It’ll give us a chance to win. So when the guys do that, I feel like a sense of peace and support from them. And I gotta give the players all the credit.
“This is a group that I stop talking to them before we come out of the tunnels. ‘This is your team. What do you want to say to each other?’ And they’re doing such a great job of challenging each other the right way. There was a focus about the group this week.”
On Bryce Young’s day
“Just solid execution. Managing the game the right way. Taking the aggressive shots when he felt like he had them there. I think we missed on most of those deep shots that we had down the field, but we had opportunities. I think that we’ll continue to grow and execute those. But just in general, from the run game, pass game, to the protection, I just thought he really managed the game well.”
Explaining rotations between Rico Dowdle, Chuba Hubbard
“Our goal is to really get Chuba going. And making sure that however the series played out, we want to make sure that Rico has an impact. And you guys can see, he can make yards. He can make the first guy miss and ran with a lot of physicality. So I just love that we have both guys, and I can just continue to call the call-sheet the way that it comes off. It just gives me a lot of peace of mind where I don’t have to shift run types based on who’s in there.”
Was this the defense you envisioned this offseason?
“Building it up front. We didn’t have Turk (Wharton) out there. We didn’t have Pat Jones out there. But we have good depth inside, and I think those guys did a good job of executing the plan together. Nic (Scourton) filled in on the edge, and played really physical.
“And Tre’Von (Moehrig) had some beautiful plays on the perimeter, in the box, the tackling has improved each week. That’s something that we have to continue to challenge our guys. But it all starts up front, and the guys did a good job of executing today.”
This story was originally published September 21, 2025 at 5:43 PM.
