CHARLOTTE– It's back home and back to the division for the Panthers (1-4) this week, as Dave Canales and crew return to the Queen City and welcomes the Atlanta Falcons (3-2).

The Falcons are tied for first in the NFC South and coming off a mini-bye, after defeating the Bucs on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. The Panthers are 22-36 all-time against the Falcons. Carolina is 14-15 at home and 8-22 on the road. Carolina is 0-4 in overtime against Atlanta.

Ahead of Sunday's matinee, get to know the 2024 Falcons.

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The biggest offseason pickup for the Falcons was quarterback Kirk Cousins. The veteran passer came south after six seasons with the Vikings (and a previous six with Washington). Kirko Chains, even coming off of an Achilles injury that ended his 2023 season and with a top 10 pick in Michael Penix Jr. waiting on the sideline, has slipped right into this Falcons offense.

His favorite target is Drake London. The two have connected for 32 receptions, 354 yards and three touchdowns. London's speed and elusiveness allows him room to work after the catch as well, and he's picked up 102 yards that way.

Through five games, Cousins has completed 119-of-177 passes for 1,373 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He's thrown into a tight window 20 percent of the time, according to Next Gen Stats, the highest percentage of his career.

Since entering the NFL in 2012, Cousins has 25 fourth-quarter comebacks, and 31 game -winning drives. He's had three of each in five games this season.

JB3 and Judon

The Falcons have bracketed their defense with two dynamic players in safety Jessie Bates III and pass rusher Matthew Judon. The former has only one interception so far this season but has a team high three passes defended. He is also coming off a year in which he had six picks. Bates has forced two fumbles already this season and is third on the team with 37 tackles. He can play center field as a free safety, taking away a lot of deep shots for quarterbacks.

Judon moved to Atlanta this offseason after three seasons with the Patriots. He's added 1.5 sacks, but has been able to generate five pressures on his pass rush snaps in the last three weeks.

Who? Koo

The Falcons have a modern luxury in Younghoe Koo. The seven-year veteran kicker is 12-14 on field goals thus far this season, including 5-6 from 50-plus yards. The latter is his best start on such field goals of his career. He also hit his career long this season, a 58-yarder that was a game winner (two-seconds remaining) against the Saints in Week 4.

Koo has six field goals that have been lead changing scores this season, with three of those six coming from 50-plus yards. It has allowed the Falcons to feel comfortable about their ability to tack on points anytime they cross midfield and get even slightly into their opponents territory.