After a 38-0 demolition of the Falcons just two games ago, it might be difficult for Carolina to gear up for Sunday’s rematch. Knowing that a 19th straight regular season win gets them homefield advantage throughout the playoffs could be enough to do the trick.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atlanta Falcons +7
Carolina Panthers -7
Over/Under 47.5
ODDS ANALYSIS
There’s been no change on the line and spread since the opening numbers hit the board, meaning the oddsmakers nailed this one. The Falcons have played their last 10 games at or below the total and the under is 11-2-1 overall. The teams have a history of playing below the final total cashing the under in each of the last five meetings.
KEY INJURIES
Jonathan Stewart – Will likely be held out another game with a foot injury that forced him to miss last week’s win at New York. With a first-round bye secured, the Panthers will be cautious with their top running back. Cameron Artis-Payne was the team’s leading rusher last week.
Vic Beasley – Atlanta’s top pick in this year’s draft left last week’s game after aggravating a shoulder injury and is questionable to play on Sunday. Beasley said he played all season with the injury but was unaware of its extent. Kroy Biermann would likely see more snaps at outside linebacker in Beasley’s absence.
KEY MISMATCH
We might as well put Cam Newton’s name on the MVP trophy now. Not just for what the Panthers’ quarterback has done on the field – and that’s obvious. But also for what he’s done in the locker room. During a preseason interview, Newton said the Panthers are a team destined for greatness. Few predicted they would live up to those words, especially after receiver Kelvin Benjamin went down with a torn ACL. But here they are, a perfect 14-0 with two games left to play and Newton has already thrown for more touchdowns than in any season in his career. The quarterback and his mates have done all of this while appearing to have loads of fun. Observers inside the Panther’s organization and out have commented on the great chemistry the team has developed – something that was questioned in the past that Newton made a conscious effort to improve. His methods are working.
KEY STAT
+19 – Carolina’s turnover differential. The Panthers have the best margin in the league with a ridiculous 35 takeaways. Atlanta turned the ball over four times in the earlier meeting and has a minus-6 margin for the year.
BETTING ANGLE
It’s probably not a good idea to call out any player from a team that annihilated you 38-0 just two weeks ago. But Falcons’ receiver Roddy White gave the Panthers some locker room fodder with critical remarks about defensive back Josh Norman. White didn’t hide his feelings about Carolina’s boastful cornerback, who got into a few scuffles with Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. last week, saying Norman is “not that tough” and his numbers are a product of how the Panthers play defense. Even Falcons receiver Julio Jones weighed in, stopping short of giving Norman too much credit. When the teams met a few weeks ago, Norman did plenty of talking in Carolina’s win. For white and Jones, this discussion will mean nothing if Norman and the Panthers dismantle the Falcons once again.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
At this point in the season there’s no denying the Panthers are pretty damn good. Newton has taken his game to another level and the team just keeps winning football games – 18 straight during the regular season to be exact. The defense showed some cracks last week, letting a big lead slip away in the second half. But, like they’ve done all season, the Panthers found a way to win. The Falcons will be motivated to put up a better showing than they did a few weeks back during their 38-0 shellacking in Carolina, but the Panthers have a chance to sew up home field through the NFC playoffs, and that’s a pretty big deal to team that bowed out last season on the road in a hard-fought game against the Seahawks. Atlanta snapped an ugly six-game skid last week and they’re right where most expected – a .500 team.
Carolina 34, Atlanta 23
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