The Carolina Panthers have a lot more than Cam Newton’s wardrobe to be concerned about. In a Sunday night gut-check game, the Panthers hurled all over themselves in a loss to Seattle and will play out the string trying to avoid a last place finish in the NFC South, just one season after producing 15 regular season victories and a Super Bowl appearance. The San Diego Chargers aren’t going anywhere either, so we’ll see which team shows up in this Week 14 contest.
Watch this regular season Week 14 matchup live on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium.
NFL Odds at BookMaker.eu
San Diego Chargers +1
Carolina Panthers -1
Over/Under 48
Odds Analysis
The Panthers are hopeful a return home can ignite a flame under them for the final stretch. Things haven’t gone according to plan this season, and that includes at the betting window where they are just 3-8-1 ATS. Carolina opened as a 1.5-point favorite and the line was wagered down with early spread wagers on the visitors. The wagering has evened out at the current line and we probably won’t see more movement. The total was bet down to its current number after opening at 49.5 and holds some value with shaky defensive play recently from both sides.
Injury Report
Luke Kuechly – The Panthers’ defense wasn’t anything special with Kuechly playing, but it’s been absolutely horrendous with him not in the lineup. In two games since the linebacker suffered a concussion, Carolina has been shredded for 75 points and 900 total yards.
Daryl Williams – Carolina’s offensive line has been ravaged by injuries and the patchwork group did little to stop Seattle’s defensive pressure. Williams missed another game at tackle and is the third starter on the shelf. Ryan Kalil and his backup Gino Gradkowksi were put on injured reserve, joining Michael Oher. The group didn’t allow a sack to Seattle, but the offense mustered just 271 total yards.
Matchup to Watch
The Chargers rank right up there with Carolina as far as disappointments for the 2016 season. One area of concern for San Diego has to do with its problems holding onto the football. Last season Melvin Gordon was criticized for his fumbling gaffes. This year it’s Philip Rivers and his inability to hit guys in the same uniform, usually with the game on the line. Once again a late Rivers interception prevented the Chargers from a possible tie and, once again, an earlier pick led to six points for the opposition.
Rivers is a true gunslinger and he doesn’t shy away from making the difficult throw. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. His 14 picks are the second-most in the league and the Chargers have turned the ball over a NFL-high tying 25 times. The result has been some painful losses, like the Miami game where a Rivers pick was returned for the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. Rivers has thrown six interceptions in the fourth quarter when the game is still within one score. San Diego has been so close to winning a handful of those games, only to see a possible victory snatched away.
Free ATS Pick
Sunday night’s game started poorly for the Panthers and just got worse. After benching Newton for the first series after his dress code violation, one has to wonder if Ron Rivera has lost control of his club. Sure Carolina is besieged by injuries, but that’s no excuse for the dismal display the Panthers put on against Seattle. Newton is supposed to be a leader on this club and he led them right to the slaughter house with his poor decision. His actions didn’t lose the game on the field, but the consequences are far reaching. A return home after 10 days on the road could be a boost as Carolina looks to salvage its season, but given how the trip ended it’s hard to see the Panthers bounce back from that.
Watch for San Diego to use a variety of different packages on defense to try and confuse Carolina’s front. The Panthers had just one lineman at his regular spot in Seattle and the result was one of the weaker games statistically. The Panthers produced just 271 yards of offense and a season-low seven points. Granted, it’s a different defense, but the Chargers can take note and attack a weakened offensive line. It’s up to Newton to figure it out after that, and that hasn’t been the case this season. Go with the road team for the upset win.
NFL Odds: Chargers 26, Panthers 23
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