The Panthers will try to end their four-game losing streak on the road in Week 8 against the Falcons.
The Panthers (3-4) have lost their last four games after getting off to a hot start over the first three weeks of the 2021 season, and this Sunday they will try to end their four-game losing streak when they take on the the Falcons (3-3) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons have won two of their last three games after starting 1-2 over the first three weeks.
The Panthers have looked like two completely different teams this season, with the split point being after their Week 3 win over the Texans when they lost running back Christian McCaffrey to a hamstring injury (that later placed him on injured reserve until at least Week 9 when the Panthers take on the Patriots).
The Panthers’ biggest issue over the last four games has been at quarterback, with Sam Darnold slowly regressing back to the same guy we saw with the Jets for the first three years of his career. His receivers haven’t done him many favors with drive-killing drops, and his offensive line hasn’t helped by refusing to block pass rushers, but ultimately the responsibility lies at the feet of Darnold to turn this ship around before it crashes into the iceberg and sinks. The Panthers’ struggles on offense have also affected the defense, as Phil Snow’s unit have had to deal with defending short fields and inflated snap counts thanks to turnovers and frequent three-and-outs by the offense. The coaching staff haven’t been at their best, either, so it’s safe to say that this four-week decline has been a full team effort.
The Panthers are so far removed from the team that looked to be turning the corner over the first three weeks of the season that it’s no surprise they’re not the favorites to win their Week 8 matchup with the Falcons. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Panthers are currently 3-point underdogs for this Sunday’s game. The line has slightly moved, however, because the Panthers were originally 2.5-point underdogs when the line opened on Sunday evening.
The Panthers-Falcons game is always impossible to predict, but one thing that stands out is the Panthers have struggled against the Falcons — particularly in Atlanta — over the course of the rivalry. The Panthers are 7-19 all-time in Atlanta, and have lost five of the last six. (We do have a 1-game winning streak in Atlanta though, for what it’s worth.)
Panthers vs Falcons: Week 8 betting splits
Point spread: The Panthers are 3-point underdogs.
Over/under: The point total is 45.5.
Moneyline: The Panthers are underdogs with moneyline odds at +145. Moneyline odds for the Falcons are -165.
My prediction
I can’t say that the Panthers should win this game because I don’t think it’s an easy win by any stretch (and we saw what happened last week when I said we should beat the Giants). The Falcons are 3-3, but have won two straight (despite those two games being against the Jets and Dolphins) while the Panthers are on a four-game losing streak. If momentum is a real thing, it’s definitely in Atlanta’s favor, and with the Panthers going to a place where they haven’t had much success I just can’t pick them to win this week.
I’d take the Falcons to cover the spread, but I’d also take the under because I don’t think this game will be a shootout and I see both teams combining for less than 45 points.
Score prediction: Panthers 10 Falcons 20
What about you, Panthers fans? Do you think the Panthers will pick up the win? Why or why not? Share your thoughts with us!
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.