CHARLOTTE — The Panthers found out Sunday what happens when you don't make mistakes, when you play the kind of complementary football they've talked about all offseason.

And they also got to celebrate a shutout.

The Panthers beat the Falcons 30-0 in the home opener at Bank of America Stadium, improving to 1-2 in a game in which nearly everyone had a hand in the result.

The offense was clean, not committing the early turnovers that haunted them in Jacksonville and Arizona. The defense stood up in ways it hadn't in some time, creating three turnovers of its own. And the special teams were excellent, except for one early bobble.

It was an impressive display for the Panthers, who recorded the first shutout since a 20-0 win over the Lions on Nov. 22, 2020.

Quarterback Bryce Young was a clean 16-of-24 passing for 121 yards and ran for a touchdown early, Rico Dowdle got his first touchdown as a Panther.

Couple that with a defense that picked Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. off twice and chased him in the fourth quarter (Kirk Cousins finished the game for the Falcons), and the Panthers have a formula they want to replicate, heading into New England next week.

But after a couple of rough road losses, it was a chance to celebrate they've been waiting for.

Chau Smith-Wade's pick-six was a game-changer

The Panthers got defensive plays they needed throughout the day, but none were bigger than cornerback Chau Smith-Wade's pick-six in the third quarter.

Smith-Wade jumped a route intended for Bijan Robinson and cruised into the end zone, giving the Panthers a 17-0 lead early in the third.

But the Panthers did another solid job against the run, allowing just 72 rushing yards to Robinson, who has the chance to make big plays at any time.

They also got an interception later in the third quarter from Mike Jackson, who nearly had a pick-six of his own, if not for an awkward attempt to avoid Penix. And Demani Richardson got a fumble recovery late to trigger the celebration.

Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald off to hot start

Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald continues to impress. In the second quarter, he hit a 57-yard field goal, which is now tied for the second-longest field goal in franchise history.

(Zane Gonzalez also hit from 57 against the Falcons in 2021.)

It trails only the 63-yard game-winner by Graham Gano against the Giants in 2018.

Fitzgerald is 5-of-5 so far on field goals this year, after the undrafted rookie from Florida State won the job during a training camp competition with Matthew Wright.

Trevor Etienne replaced on punt returns after bobble

Rookie running back Trevor Etienne was drafted in the fourth round with an eye toward adding some pop in the run game.

But he was replaced in the first half, after an early bobble.

After mishandling a punt that gave the Falcons good field position (they were bailed out by Falcons kicker Parker Romo's second miss of the day), the Panthers made a change.

Veteran wide receiver David Moore was back there afterward, and while he's not as much of a threat to break one, he's a secure receiver of the ball. That's why he's there.