Just two years ago this would have been the marquee match up of the week. Now, it’s a toss away early game as the Carolina Panthers (2-1) take on the New England Patriots (2-1) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
The game is slated for 1 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on your local FOX station.
The Game: Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots (-9)
O/U: 49.0
The History
The Panthers and Patriots have played just twice since Carolina joined the league in 1994 and one of those match ups was Super Bowl 38. The series is all tied up 3-3.
Cam Newton has faced off against New England just one time and beat them, 24-20, on November 18, 2013. Newton passed for 209 yards and three touchdowns while rushing seven times for 62 yards.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-1)
There’s falling back to earth then there’s what happened to the Panthers last week against the New Orleans Saints. Cam Newton tossed three interceptions, fumbled twice and threw for 167 yards against the worst passing defense in the league. Carolina never got the running game going and, on defense, decided to just stop covering Michael Thomas completely. It did not work out.
Nothing would erase all the bad memories from last week like a victory over everyone’s most hated team. The Panthers actually have a solid foundation to get this done. The Houston Texans showed that what happened in Week One with the Kansas City Chiefs was no fluke. This is who the Patriots are on defense. Carolina, with Christian McCaffrey, can exploit those match ups the same way the Chiefs did with Kareem Hunt. This could be a big day for the rookie back.
While the final score may have looked lopsided, the Panthers defense didn’t give up a ton of yards to Drew Brees and his friends. They held New Orleans to 149 total yards on the ground and Brees threw for just 220 yards. But five Newton turnovers continually gave the Saints a short field and their offense never needs the help.
Carolina will be without starting center Ryan Kalil who will miss his third straight game. Starting cornerback Daryl Worley is out with a strained pectoral.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-1)
If not for a pinpoint pass from Tom Brady to Brandin Cooks in the final seconds against the Houston Texans, the Patriots would be sitting at 1-2 right now. I know in the preseason I picked Brady to have a down season and he started out with a terrible performance against the Chiefs. Since then he’s thrown for around 700 yards and nine touchdowns. I’m not surrendering my bold prediction just yet. It’s a long season, but those kinds of numbers do give me pause.
Here’s the worry with New England. Their defense has surrendered 36 points per game and no fix is in sight. The run defense that showed up in the first half of Super Bowl 51 decided to hang around for another season and now the pass defense has decided to join it.
The Patriots should have Dont’a Hightower and Eric Rowe on the field this week. Both guys practiced, but are still not 100 percent. That’s good news, but you know who New England really needs to show up? Its offensive line.
Last week against the Texans Tom Brady was sacked five times and Houston got 8.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. I don’t care how good a shape Brady is in, he can’t take that kind of punishment week in and week out, especially at 40. The running game was nonexistent against Houston and I don’t think it gets any easier against the Panthers’ front.
The Pick
Four years ago a win over New England put the Panthers on the map as serious contenders. The Patriots defense is in shambles and seems to match up poorly with Carolina’s strengths. Cam Newton has now started three straight games and got his bed shitting out of his system last week. I smell a monster upset here. The recipe is there, just like the Chiefs in Week One, if Carolina can protect the ball and follow it. I think they get it done. Panthers 27, Patriots 24
This week
Straight up: 1-0
Against the spread: 1-0
Last week
Straight up: 7-9
Against the spread: 6-10
Season
Straight up: 28-19
Against the spread: 22-25
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