New England Patriots Vs Carolina Panthers Game Preview: No Cam Reunion: Jones Not Newton Leads Pats Vs Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. â This was supposed to be the Cam Newton game.
It was to be Newtonâs homecoming, and a chance for the Carolina Panthersâ 2011 No. 1 draft pick to face his former team after releasing him before the 2020 season.
Instead, rookie quarterback Mac Jones leads the Patriots against the Panthers on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a matchup of 4-4 teams after Newton was cut before the regular-season opener.
Jones beat out Newton for the starting job in training camp and this yearâs No. 15 overall pick from Alabama has been a pleasant surprise so far, leading all rookie QBs in completions , completion rate , passing yards , TD passes and rating .
Patriots safety Adrian Phillips said Jones isnât a ârah-rah guy,â but exudes confidence.
Cam was super confident, too,â Phillips said. âHe exudes a lot of confidence as well. seeing Cam, I donât think that really dimmed his light. Heâs a rookie, he understood sometimes you gotta follow before you can lead. He just waited until it was his time.
Carolina coach Matt Rhule coached Jones at the Senior Bowl and walked away impressed.
However, the Panthers passed on Jones with the No. 8 pick, even though they needed a quarterback. Rhule felt the team had a more pressing need at cornerback, and Carolina went with Jaycee Horn from South Carolina instead, the first defensive player taken in the draft.
Horn broke his foot in Week 3 and remains on injured reserve.
WALKER UP NEXT?
GILMORE VS PATS
Play Picks: Take The Panthers With The Points Against Patriots In Week 9
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Brian Sausa writes: :The AFC East and NFC South are matchup this year and in Week 9, the Patriots are going to Carolina to face the new-look Panthers. New England has seen former Jets QB Sam Darnold plenty, but Christian McCaffrey will be the one that Bill Belichick is really planning for. The Patriots offense has been refurbished with some new weapons, so maybe we should expect some fireworks in North Carolina.”
Pats Shut Down Darnold Panthers Cruise To 24
- AP
CHARLOTTE. N.C. Bill Belichick has the blueprint for beating Sam Darnold, and it starts with disguising coverages.
His players just seem to do the rest.
New England’s defense intercepted Darnold on three consecutive possessions in the second half – including one that J.C. Jackson returned 88 yards for a touchdown – and the New England Patriots cruised past the Carolina Panthers 24-6 on Sunday for their fourth win in the past five games.
Belichick is 4-0 against Darnold, and the quarterback has thrown nine interceptions and one touchdown pass in those outings.
”We disguise,” said Jackson, who also intercepted Darnold in the end zone to prevent another scoring opportunity. ”Our defense disguises pretty good. Every year he’s had a hard time.”
Darnold’s three previous losses came with the New York Jets.
”They play man coverage and try to create picks and create confusion up front,” Darnold said. ”I think that’s the biggest thing they do and they do a really good job of it. But I think it comes down to my decision-making. We had guys in places that we wanted and just couldn’t get them the ball and I turned it over a few too many times.”
Added Belichick: ”We were able to create some pressure. Our defense came to play today.”
”Getting a win on the road is a hard thing to do and we’ve done a good job of that this year,” Jones said. ”The defense was lights-out.”
Unlike two weeks ago, Panthers coach Matt Rhule decided against benching Darnold against the Patriots.
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Betting Line And Game Prediction
Understandably, the Patriots are clear favorites for the sportsbooks in this game against the Panthers. They are 4-point favorites when we take home-field advantage into consideration, Vegas sees New England as the better team by 6-7 points. That feels about right given the way the Panthers have been playing and their uncertainty at the QB position.
The Panthers are by no means incapable of springing a surprise, but they will need Walker to play as well as he did in the XFL to make it happen. The future of both franchises is more long-term than just the 2021 season, but this game could be vital in shaping the second half of the campaign for both of these teams.
Patriots vs. Panthers Prediction: Patriots 21, Panthers 17
Ben Rolfe is a Senior Managing Editor at Pro Football Network and is also a member of theFantasy Sports Writers Association . You can find him on Twitter
Sportsnaut: Patriots 17 Panthers 16
Matt Johnson writes: “Carolina settled at quarterback this past offseason and its going to cost them. Put Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford or even Justin Fields, and this is a very dangerous club. With Sam Darnold as the signal-caller, New Englands defense will get into his head with pressure and that will cost Carolina.”
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Best Bet: Under 41 Total Points At Caesars
Wager: 2 Units
Patriots games have combined for an average of 46.5 points this season, while Panthers games have combined for an average of 40.5 points.
While this is a low bar for a total, its hard not to like the Under with how Sam Darnold is playing right now. The young quarterback has been struggling mightily and if he plays, its hard to think hell improve against a defense that is getting better every week.
It wouldnt surprise me to see New Englands defense have a big day in this NFL bet of the day.
Darnold Seeing Ghosts Again
The Patriots are Sam Darnold’s kryptonite.
The Panthers quarterback left last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons with a concussion but was healthy enough to start against the Patriots. It might have been a better decision to start backup P.J. Walker instead.
Edelman trolls Darnold as QB’s nightmares against Pats continue
Darnold completed 16 of 33 pass attempts for just 172 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. His second interception was returned 88 yards for a touchdown by Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson, which put New England up 21-6 in the third quarter:
Mr. INT â¡ï¸ Mr. TD
New England Patriots
Darnold’s career stats versus the Patriots are putrid. He’s winless with a 53.19 completion percentage, one touchdown and nine interceptions in four games. Darnold’s teams have been outscored by 100 points in those four matchups.
Ouch.
The Panthers’ decision to trade Teddy Bridgewater to the Denver Broncos and then acquire Darnold from the Jets via trade continues to look worse each week. Carolina would have a legit chance at being an NFC Wild Card team with Bridgewater at quarterback. The postseason is not a realistic target for the Panthers with Darnold at the helm.
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New England Patriots Vs Carolina Panthers Prediction And Odds
- Spread: Patriots -3
- Moneyline: Patriots -155, Panthers +135
- Over/Under: 43
- Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook
Do you want to make a little cash out of Carolina? Do you think backing Bill Belichick will help bolster your bank account? If youre looking to make a little money predicting the future, its worth considering the past before you lay down your hard-earned cash.
Before delving into team-specific betting patterns, lets consider the NFL-wide trends as we head into Week 9. Through the first eight weeks of the season, away teams are 63-58 outright.
Furthermore, away favorites like New England is in this Patriots vs. Panthers matchup are 31-16 outright. Away teams are also 66-51-1 against the spread so far this season.
Gilmore Strikes Mac Rebounds
With the Patriots taking a 7-3 lead, then forcing another Panthers punt, Stephon Gilmore made his presence felt and gave his new team a much-needed boost, picking off Mac Jones for his second giveaway of the first half. Patriots fans saw plenty of that kind of smooth coverage and excellent anticipation over the last four seasons from Gilmore. Luckily, the defense was able to get the stop, doing their part in the complementary football game to not let Gilmore’s big play have an impact on the game.
Despite the fumble and the interceptions, Jones continued to display the kind of mental toughness and short memory that he’s had all season. He’d help produce a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in response after the interception to end the first half. Jones made two third-down conversion throws on the drive, including the touchdown throw, as the rookie continue to impress with his bounce-back ability.
From there the defense would take over, getting three takeaways that put the game out of reach.
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The Patriots Go For Two Out Of Three
Despite their victory in Super Bowl XXXVI after the 2001 season, the Patriots stumbled early in the 2002 season, recorded a 97 regular season record, and failed to make the playoffs.
Then, New England seemed to implode before the 2003 season ever started. Five days before their opening game against the Buffalo Bills, Pro Bowl safety Lawyer Milloy, one of the Patriots’ defensive leaders, was unexpectedly cut by the team after refusing to restructure his contract. The move devastated many of the New England players, while Milloy immediately signed with the Bills two days later. With the Patriots seemingly in emotional disarray, Buffalo defeated New England, 310, with Milloy forcing an interception and recording one sack and five tackles.
However, after a 22 start, the Patriots ended up winning their last 12 games to earn a league-best 142 record.
In the backfield, the team’s rushing game was led by running backs Antowain Smith and Kevin Faulk, who carried the ball equally. Smith was the team’s leading rusher with 642 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Faulk rushed for 638 yards and caught 48 passes for 440 yards.
Washington helped anchor New England’s defensive line, recording 32 tackles and 2 sacks. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Richard Seymour also contributed with 8 sacks. Behind them, the Patriots had 3 outstanding linebackers: Pro Bowl linebacker Willie McGinest , Mike Vrabel , and Tedy Bruschi .
Pro Football Network: Patriots 23 Panthers 20
Ben Rolfe writes: “Both the Patriots and Panthers kept their seasons alive last week, but these two teams have been incredibly hard to make predictions about. Both quarterbacks have had their ups and downs, and this game has the subplot of the Patriots facing their former defensive back in Stephon Gilmore. This is also the defensive scheme that famously had Darnold seeing ghosts while with the Jets. The Patriots should have too much for Carolina, but this might be another close game for New England.”
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Defense Brings The Heat
With the offense hitting some early speed bumps, both self-inflicted and caused by the Panthers’ defense, the Patriots defense showed up and had one of their best games of the season on Sunday. Despite two first-half turnovers by their offense, the Pats D stepped up each time their number was called, holding Carolina to field goals coming off of both turnovers. Those stands just set the stage for a takeaway-filled second half that allowed the Pats to pull away.
The defense would force another three-and-out to start the third quarter and even when the Panthers got their first big play of the game, a 33-yard dump-off and run by Chuba Hubbard, they quickly rebounded with J.C. Jackson’s 88-yard pick-six that extended the lead to 21-6.
They’d follow that up with another interception by Jamie Collins and then another by Jackson that came in the end zone.
It was the defense’s best effort of the season, and while Carolina was dealing with plenty of injury issues and their own mistakes, New England’s aggressiveness was a huge part of the win. It bodes extremely well to have the defense rounding into form as Thanksgiving approaches.
Can You Stream Carolina Panthers Vs New England Patriots On Nfl Game Pass
With NFL Game Pass, you wonât be able to watch the Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots game live, you will be able to listen to the live radio broadcast. Immediately, after the game ends however, you will be able to stream the game on-demand with NFL Game Pass.
You can get a NFL Game Pass for $99.99 for the entire season, after a 7-Day Free Trial.
$99.99 / season
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Sportsbook Play Of The Day
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New England Patriots Vs Carolina Panthers Daily Fantasy Picks
I was big on Pats RB Damien Harris heading into the season, and hes been performing the past few weeks. Over his last few games, Harris is averaging 95.6 yards with four trips to end zone. If the Pats get him going, he could have a career day in Carolina. The Panthers might have a top-tier passing defense, but theyre still allowing 114.5 yards per game on the ground. Damien Harris is only listed at $6,000 on DraftKings and has an opportunity for some breakout runs this week.
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New England Patriots Vs Carolina Panthers Betting Odds
Personally, I think this game will be pretty one-sided. The Pats are hitting their stride right now on a two-game winning streak, and close losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers show that they can compete with the big boys. The Panthers, on the other hand, feel like a house of cards thats being held together by a strong defense. Even if QB Sam Darnold and Christian McCaffrey play on Sunday, theyre going to have a tough time competing with the Pats while still banged up.
With two defenses that are capable of smothering the opposition, Im not seeing a lot of points here. This might be a short game with plenty of runs, but thats not a problem if youre backing the Pats. Carolinas defense will give Mac Jones some trouble, but the experienced coaching staff will make the right adjustments to win this one. Meanwhile, a Carolina offense in need of a bye week will struggle all throughout Sunday. Lay the points with the Patriots as Carolina continues to look for answers.
My predictions: Patriots win 17-10, Patriots -3.5, under 41 points
You can bet on this NFL game legally. Sports betting has been legalized in the US. You must be located in a legalized state in order to bet online.
Location: Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NCTV Coverage: CBS
Are The Patriots Growing Into The 2021 Season Or Taking Advantage Of A Soft Schedule
When the Patriots fell to 1-3 following their Sunday Night Football loss to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, the whispers were starting to build. With their only victory coming against the Jets, questions were being asked about where New England was headed. Those questions have diminished, but when you look at the schedule they have faced, eyebrows should still be raised.
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Heading into Week 8, the Patriots had only beaten the Jets and Texans, two of the worst teams in the league. Their victory over the Chargers quietened concerns a bit, but they need a convincing win in Carolina. New Englands schedule will not get overly difficult in 2021. But with games against the Bills , the Titans, and the Browns remaining on the schedule, they need to capitalize on easier contests if they want a shot at the playoffs this year.
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Betting Trends For Patriots Vs Panthers
Based on the NFL-wide betting trends, New England appears to have the advantage in this Patriots vs. Panthers matchup. However, favorites like the Patriots are for this game are actually 53-67-1 ATS.
Meanwhile, both teams are 4-4 against the spread. That said, the Panthers have covered just once since Week 3, so the Patriots are well placed to buck that league-wide trend.
New England is also 4-4 against the over this season, suggesting the potential to cover the total . Their last four games have tallied more than the over/under line. Despite this, the Panthers have only hit the over in two of their eight games this season.
Carolinas defense should provide a more solid test for the Patriots than some of New Englands opponents in the last four games. As a result, I like the under here.
Patriots Vs Panthers Prediction
Which of these two 4-4 teams will creep above .500 following the Week 9 Patriots vs. Panthers clash? Carolina actually holds a 4-3 all-time record over New England. Furthermore, the Panthers have won the last two bouts. In fact, the Patriots havent won in Carolina since a 38-6 win in 2002.
Although the Panthers halted a four-game losing streak in the 2021 NFL season with a win over the Atlanta Falcons, the Patriots come into this game riding more momentum than their opponent. After demolishing the New York Jets in Foxborough, they came away with a surprise 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in SoFi Stadium.
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Before we get carried away calling the Patriots a playoff contender, its worth pointing out that just 7 of those points came from an offensive touchdown. While New Englands passing offense ranks in the top half of the NFL this season, Mac Jones will face a tough challenge against a premier defense.
Although the Patriots defense hasnt been as ferocious as some of Belichicks previous units, theyre still an above-average squad. Moreover, theyve snagged 10 interceptions this season, just 1 fewer than the league-leading Bills. Remember that time that Sam Darnold saw ghosts against the Patriots while with the Jets? That could be a difference-maker on Sunday afternoon.
Prediction: Patriots 23, Panthers 19
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