Raheem Morris Reflects on Tough Loss: ‘We Were Outcoached and Outplayed’ in Shutdown Against Carolina Panthers

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons faced a tough defeat, losing 30-0 to the Carolina Panthers, who had been winless up to this point. It marked the Falcons’ first shutout on the road in ten years, echoing a similar loss back in 2015.

Head coach Raheem Morris didn’t mince words: “They outplayed us in every way. We couldn’t get going and couldn’t recover from it.” The team struggled, failing to reach the red zone, which is alarming considering they’ve only managed to score once in the last eight quarters.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. reflected on the offense’s difficulties, saying, “I have to find our guys when they’re open and give them chances to make plays.” Drake London noted, “We have talent. We just need to show it.”

Interestingly, even though the Falcons had 109 more offensive yards than the Panthers, the loss still stung. The last team to suffer a similar fate—losing by over 30 points despite significant yardage—was the Miami Dolphins in 1970.

After the loss, rookie running back Bijan Robinson expressed his feelings, saying, “This has to make us stronger. We need to hurt from this.” He emphasized the importance of this defeat in bonding the team.

Penix had a challenging game, connecting on 18 of 36 passes and throwing two interceptions, one of which led to a touchdown for Carolina. Morris stated that while Kirk Cousins took over later in the game, it doesn’t signal a change in their starting quarterback situation.

Communication issues also plagued the Falcons early on, which Morris noted but insisted were not the main reason for the loss. He affirmed that there were no excuses. “We just have to play better,” he stated.

In summary, it was a tough lesson for the Falcons. “We were outplayed and outcoached,” said Morris. Penix echoed this sentiment, while London simply summarized the mood: “It was not good at all. It wasn’t our standard.”

This loss could be a pivotal moment for the Falcons. Teams often find strength in adversity, and how they rebound from this shutout will define their season. The Falcons need to regroup and channel this experience into future growth.



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News,Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (2025-REG-3),Michael Penix Jr.,Drake London,Raheem Morris,Zac Robinson