The Carolina Panthers had a chance to climb to two games over .500 and tighten their grip on the NFC South on Sunday. Instead, they let that slip away in a rough loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and now the schedule gives them no time to stew over it. Green Bay is next, and the Panthers head there for a Thursday night matchup that already looks uphill.
The early numbers paint a familiar picture: Carolina is a road underdog against the Packers, even after beating them at Lambeau Field last season. DraftKings has Green Bay favored by 3.5 points, with the Packers at -115 to cover and the Panthers at -105. The total is set at 47.5, with the over priced at -112 and the under at -108.
On the moneyline, the Panthers sit at +160 to win outright, while the Packers are -192. In other words, the oddsmakers are not showing much belief in Carolina, even though both teams are coming off losses. The projected result has Green Bay winning 26-22, though the spread suggests this is not expected to turn into a runaway.
Carolina’s injury issues remain part of the story. Taylor Moton went down soon after returning, and the Panthers are still missing Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn. Green Bay, meanwhile, is getting healthier, with Josh Jacobs back after coming off the Commissioner's Exempt List.
That matters, especially against a Panthers defense that has already given up 250-plus rushing yards in two games. Jacobs shaking off the rust would be a problem for a Carolina front trying to steady itself.
There is at least one reason to think the Panthers can make this more interesting than the odds suggest. They scored 32 points and beat the Detroit Lions with most of these same injuries, while the Packers just dropped a game to the Lions after putting up 17. Still, the gap in trust and health is obvious, and that’s reflected in the line.
Last year’s upset over Green Bay is in the books, but the same formula does not look likely to work again. The Packers are expected to be better prepared this time, and the Panthers are still searching for a way to bounce back.
In Other News...
Panthers Suddenly Have A Trade Opportunity They Can't Ignore
The Colts decision to send guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle for future draft picks immediately changed the temperature around Indianapolis, because it hinted at something bigger than a one-off deal. According to league insider Tom Pelissero, the Colts may be open to moving other players as well, which is the kind of signal front offices around the league notice right away.
For Carolina, that matters because a team still looking to strengthen its roster cannot afford to ignore a chance to shop where the market suddenly gets a little softer. If Indianapolis is genuinely willing to listen, the Panthers could have a path to players who might fit immediate needs and cost less than they would have just a week ago. The challenge now is figuring out how far the Colts are prepared to go. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Now Wait On A Packers Weapon Who Could Change Thursday Night
The Panthers are spending the build-up to Thursday night keeping an eye on a Packers receiver whose status could tilt the matchup in a hurry. Matthew Golden opened the week as a non-participant in practice before working up to limited status, and Green Bay still listed him as questionable because of shoulder and foot issues. For Carolina, that matters because Golden is one of the more explosive pieces on the Packers' offense, and his availability can shape how aggressively the Panthers have to defend the perimeter.
Green Bay's injury report also includes defensive tackles Devonte Wyatt and Anthony Campbell, along with edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr., but Golden is the name that changes the conversation most for Carolina. If he is active, the Panthers will have to plan for a different version of the Packers' passing game than the one they might have expected earlier in the week, and on a short week there is not much time to adjust once the final word comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Have Found An O-Line Trade Fit Worth Debating
The Panthers are still poking around for help up front, and a new name worth watching has surfaced in Las Vegas. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler suggested interior lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson could be had for a Day 3 pick, which immediately makes him the kind of affordable target teams like Carolina have to at least consider as they keep sorting through their offensive line options.
Powers-Johnsons appeal is pretty straightforward for the Panthers: he has experience at right guard and center, and he profiles as either a plug-in starter or a useful depth piece depending on how the rest of the board breaks. Carolinas own roster needs make that kind of flexibility attractive, especially with other teams making moves and the market for interior linemen never really getting simple this time of year. [Read more 🡒]