Once he was given a second chance, Young completed 61% of his passes for an average of 210.4 yards per game in 10 starts. He threw 15 touchdowns vs. six interceptions. In his three starts, Penix completed 58% of his passes for an average of 245.7 yards per game. He threw an equal three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Their seasons concluded against each other in Atlanta for a Week 18 potential division-deciding finale. The Panthers ultimately beat the Falcons, 44-38, in overtime, but the four-plus quarters of work showed how this matchup could escalate with Young and Penix at the helm.

Penix connected on 21 of his 38 passes for 312 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted and sacked once. Penix also displayed his escapability while running for a score himself. Young completed 25 of his 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He scored another two by foot, too.

“We’re just balling,” Penix said postgame on Jan. 5. “We’re playing football. They score, we feel like we’ve got to capitalize. We score, they probably feel the same way. That’s part of the game. You’ve got to make big time plays when it’s required. That’s what this team was able to do, and they were able to do it as well. It’s just always going to be a big-time game. Every time we play them, divisional game, it’s always big time.

“In the future, we look forward to winning — every time.”

Both teams had an offseason makeover, specifically with their defenses. Compared to last season’s Week 18 starting lineups, the Falcons return just four starters. The Panthers have five. More than half of their lineups, those who will be across the line of scrimmage from Penix and Young, feature new faces.

“Very different,” Bates said. “I think the last game of the season was not a definition of what this defense wants to look like. Last time they came in here, they scored a lot of point, and us as a defense now, I think we’re much improved, much more polished than last year, for sure.”

Last season, of course, the Falcons and Panthers split their series. That has been the norm as of late. Neither team has swept the other since Atlanta did so in 2019.

The Falcons enter Sunday’s game with a 1-1 overall record and 0-1 division record. The Panthers are 0-2 and have yet to play another NFC South team.

“Obviously, you’re not supposed to like the Panthers, and we don’t,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “That’s easy. It doesn’t matter what week it was or what happened.”