The latest week of action in the NFL begins with a NFC South showdown on the Thursday Night Football when the Carolina Panthers host their divisional rivals Atlants Falcons in a match between two sides with losing records.
Both teams are in transition and rebuild mode but the Panthers have done it the best with a 3-4 record to date while the Falcons go to Carolina 1-6 for the season and with their campaign already over from a competitive standpoint.
Carolina Panthers
With this being the first real year of the rebuild of the Carolina Panthers under their relatively recent new owner, you would have to suggest it is going quite well, particularly when you think about the calibre of players they lost in the off season. Cam Newton, Greg Olsen and Luke Kuechly were huge players who left the complex and offensive lynchpin Christian McCaffrey has missed all but two matches this term. To be 3-4 despite all that is a decent enough effort.
One of the big reasons why that is the case has been the rejuvenated form of Teddy Bridgewater. He may feel he has a point to prove after his horrid injury that ended his Minnesota Vikings career and if he does think that he is doing a good job of showing it. The Panthers are looking more than competitive on offense so if their defence can get into line and play to a decent level then the Panthers could yet push for a play-off berth.
Special Offer
Opt in and place 5 accumulators either in a Boylesports shop or online and get an acca free! Click the image below to bet. ALL CUSTOMERS! 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Atlanta Falcons
You get the impression that this season for the Atlanta Falcons has been the legacy of the last few dating back to the time that they had that huge lead in the Super Bowl and relinquished it. They never really dealt with that and have blown a whole load of strong winning positions since then, three of which have come in the seven matches they have played this term. Last weekend was probably the worst of those when scoring actually led to their own downfall such is the occasional bizarre nuances of this sport!
It is too simplistic to say the Falcons have forgotten how to win but clearly there is a mental block and a nervousness now when they get into a winning position. You sense Sunday’s loss will take some getting over and only having four days to have done it isn’t ideal. The big problem for Atlanta in these losses is their defence offers up little to no resistance and ultimately that will end up putting pressure on the offense to strive for more than they can manage.
Betting
There are holes in the Carolina Panthers I think it is fair to say that but I just can’t be having the Atlanta Falcons on a short week here. Each time they blow a lead they are going to get even more uneasy when in front and when you are 1-6 for the season and fall behind the motivation on such a short turnaround to muster up the belief and will to make a comeback gets even harder so it is really tough to like the Falcons here.
Carolina’s defence can be there for the taking which is a bit of an issue but with the ball in hand Teddy Bridgewater is doing good things and no matter how well or badly the Panthers defence goes, there will always be that belief that the offense can get after the Falcons defence and get the job done. I hate backing away sides in these Thursday night games because of the short turnaround but that is even more the case this season with the injury levels the way they are. Carolina look a big price to me here.
Tips
Back Carolina Panthers to beat Atlanta Falcons for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with Betfair
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020
