The Carolina Panthers are making it hard on themselves to repeat as NFC Champions. As if the start to the season wasn’t bad enough, they suffered another blow when reigning MVP Cam Newton took a shot to the head and sustained a possible concussion; that coming in a game when the Carolina defense was scorched for a record-setting performance by the Falcons’ pass-catch duo. The Panthers can start their road to recovery on Monday night when they host the last-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Week 5 NFC South matchup.
Watch this regular season Week 5 matchup live on Monday, October 10, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium.
Odds Analysis
The health of Newton will have a significant impact on the spread and total. So, while oddsmakers wait on word of his condition, the numbers have yet to hit the board. The Panthers will be favored over their division counterpart, but the starting quarterback can swing the line. When the teams met in the final regular season game of 2015 in Charlotte, the Panthers were a 10-point favorite and covered with a 38-10 win. The line and total will be adjusted accordingly when the Panthers give an update on Newton’s condition.
Injury Report
Doug Martin – With Tampa Bay’s leading rusher from a season ago still out with a hamstring issue, the Bucs run game has shriveled up. Backup-turned-starter Charles Sims hasn’t been the answer and Jacquizz Rodgers isn’t an option for an every down back. The Bucs abandoned the run game and Winston hasn’t been able to cope in what has become a one-dimensional offense.
Cam Newton – You don’t take the league MVP out of your lineup and expect things to run smoothly. That’s what the Panthers are faced with as Newton’s status is uncertain after he entered the concussion protocol. Derek Anderson is a capable backup, but he’s not Newton. Anderson is a drop back passer and his lack of mobility is opposite that of Newton. The Bucs defense will have one less thing to worry about on Sunday.
Key Stat
The Buccaneers have surrendered 128 points through their first four games this season, the most they’ve allowed in that span in the history of the franchise. It’s a staggering number, but even more alarming considering opponents have scored 51 of those points off Tampa Bay turnovers. That means the Bucs are turning the ball over a lot. Tampa Bay’s 11 giveaways and minus-9 turnover differential are both the second-worst in the league.
The biggest contributor in the turnover department is Jameis Winston, who has thrown eight interceptions and lost two fumbles to account for 10 of the 11 giveaways. This wasn’t supposed to happen, especially since the Bucs promoted last year’s offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to head coach to assist in the development of the 2015 No. 1 overall pick.
Free ATS Pick
It’s odd to see the Panthers struggling as they have in the opening part of the season. We expected the defense to be a little weaker with the loss of Josh Norman and a rebuilt secondary. But the offense was to pick up the slack. After all, they did have Kelvin Benjamin back in the lineup and every starter from last year’s scoring leader returned. But winning in the NFL is tough and the Panthers are showing us how true that is. Now they might have to march forward without Newton, who likely takes a breather after getting smacked in the noggin.
This will work to Carolina’s advantage as Newton gets a breather after two weeks of punishment and the Panthers can return to the basics. Anderson is content with staying in the pocket and throwing to his gifted pass catchers. Carolina will realize that a team effort is what wins games and not counting on the league’s MVP. The Bucs will go after a shell-shocked Carolina secondary, but the Panthers will be up to the task, especially considering their hopes of making the playoffs have diminished drastically in the past two weeks.
NFL Odds: Panthers 24, Buccaneers 20
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