8:23 pm
October 29

Falcons @ Panthers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Atlanta Falcons (1-6)

@ Carolina Panthers (3-4)

 

Current odds:

Atlanta Falcons: (+110)

Carolina Panthers: (-130)

 

• The line for this game is Panthers by 2 points.

• Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey will not get a prime-time return from a high ankle sprain, a league source confirmed to ESPN.

• With little preparation time before their Thursday night game, the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons are expecting some significant changes when they meet in an NFC South matchup. The teams will face off for the second time this season — with notable personnel adjustments since the first get-together — when they meet in Charlotte, N.C.

• Carolina’s defense experienced multiple breakdowns Sunday in a 27-24 loss at New Orleans, allowing the Saints to convert on 12 of 14 third-down situations. Carolina wound up losing when Joey Slye’s 65-yard field-goal attempt fell just short on the team’s final offensive snap.

• The Falcons came one play away from improving to 2-0 under interim coach Raheem Morris, who said the team needs to recover emotionally from the latest result — a one-point loss to the Lions. Detroit drove 75 yards in 1:04 and scored the winning touchdown (and extra point) with no time remaining.

• As for getting over the latest frustrating finish, Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan said of the short week of preparation, “I think getting back into a game plan quickly kind of helps.” Morris believes there were encouraging parts of the first meeting with the Panthers, who won that matchup 23-16 on Oct. 11 in Atlanta. “We played the Panthers really well last time,” Morris said. “There are such small windows for error in the National Football League, and we have to clean those things up.”

• The Falcons are optimistic that all of their ailing players will be fit to play by Thursday night. Only defensive end Takk McKinley was held out of practice on Tuesday.

• Not all of Carolina’s injury problems are solved on offense. Left tackle Russell Okung (calf) and right guard John Miller (ankle) have missed practice time this week. Miller took part on a limited basis in Tuesday’s workout.

• The Panthers are 1-2 against NFC South foes after facing each of the other teams once. The outcome in the first Carolina-Atlanta game pushed the Falcons to an 0-5 record, prompting the firing of coach Dan Quinn.

 

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Carolina Panthers
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