The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers have faced four common opponents to start the season: the Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Interestingly, each team had a different outcome!
Carolina scored 37 points in the opener against Chicago but gave up 59. Green Bay destroyed the Bears, 31-7.
Carolina handled Atlanta easily, 34-3, but Green Bay got crushed, 35-14.
Carolina eked out the 32-26 victory over Detroit. Green Bay lost 20-17.
Tampa Bay trounced Carolina, 43-13, while Green Bay won by a field goal, 17-14.
Shrug. Something something about football and any day.
Bryce Young has completed only 59.2% of his passes, but his 7.5 yards per attempt is a career-high by a wide margin, and he has thrown 12 touchdowns against only four interceptions. He averages 285.3 passing yards per game and has a 92.9 passer rating. Fourth-year experience has helped, but Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker are likely the reason for the breakout as pass-catching weapons. Both have caught two touchdowns and average over 13 yards per reception. Chuba Hubbard, Darren Waller and Tommy Tremble have also caught at least two touchdowns.
Carolina’s offensive line ranks only 26th per PFF.
Hubbard has paced the rushing attack, handling 96 carries for 459 yards (4.8 YPC) and four touchdowns. That said, the Panthers are tied for the NFL’s fourth-fewest total carries with 206.
Defensively, Carolina ranks sixth in blitz rate and pressure rate. Still, the team has only recorded 11 sacks and seven takeaways.
The Panthers’ pass defense ranks sixth in opponent completion rate (60.5), T-fifth in passing touchdowns (7), and third in total passing yards allowed (1,249). They also rank top-ten in yards per attempt (6.2) and passer rating (83.9).
Still, opposing teams aren’t passing much because Carolina’s run defense is horrendous. The unit has allowed 11 touchdowns, 5.2 yards per carry, and 153.2 yards per game, anchoring the NFL in all three categories.
On the other side of the matchup, Jordan Love has completed 60% of his passes, but his 7.3 yards per attempt is the third-lowest of his career. Love has thrown for 1,958 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, while taking 14 sacks.
The wide receiver duo of Christian Watson and Matthew Golden is one of the NFL’s best. Watson has caught 34 of 56 targets for 595 yards and six touchdowns. Golden has hauled in 36 of 69 targets for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Both are averaging 15+ yards per catch.
Green Bay’s rushing attack has been one of the league’s worst, but Josh Jacobs’ return should bolster the running back room. That said, the offensive line ranks 29th per PFF.
Defensively, Green Bay is middle-of-the-pack in blitzes, pressure rate and sacks (16). Still, the unit leads the NFL with 13 takeaways.
The pass defense has allowed a 65% completion rate and ranks fifth in opponent passer rating (79.9) and fourth in yards per catch (9.9). The Packers have allowed nine passing touchdowns while piling up an NFL-high nine interceptions.
The rush defense has allowed 3.9 yards per carry, 115 yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns — tied for third-most in the league.
Green Bay enters as a 3.5-point home favorite with -192 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. Carolina is a +160 underdog, with the game total set at O/U 47.5 points.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (CAR @ GB)
Captain’s Picks
RB Josh Jacobs ($13,200 CP): In his season debut last week, Jacobs played 52% of the snaps. He still handled 11 carries for 36 yards and caught five of seven targets for 55 yards and a touchdown — good for 20.1 FPTS. I have a not-so-sneaky suspicion his workload will increase substantially in Week 8. And the matchup couldn’t get much better, as Carolina allows the most yards per carry, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns. 1+1=2.
UTIL Plays
WR Savion Williams ($4,400): Williams has played 53% and 60% of snaps since returning from injury in Week 6. He’s caught all seven targets over the last two games, recording 8.1 FPTS in each matchup, and is slotting in as Green Bay’s third receiver. With Matthew Golden questionable, Williams could see more snaps and get more targets. Even if he doesn’t, he should remain involved; Williams also logged multiple carries in both contests.
RB Chuba Hubbard ($9,000): Hubbard was limited to seven carries last week because of a 43-13 blowout loss. He still garnered five targets. If the game stays competitive, Hubbard will likely see 80% to 90% of the snaps and dominate red-zone opportunities. He’s posted double-digit FPTS in every game he’s played, with three performances over 20 FPTS.
WR Christian Watson ($9,800): Watson has gotten at least eight targets in all but one contest. With Golden questionable, he could become the target hog and get his third double-digit target game. The Panthers could bracket him in that case. That said, I expect Jacobs to be a problem for the Panthers’ defense and expose the secondary. Watson has three games over 20 FPTS, with two of them over 30 FPTS, so the ceiling is massive.
Fades
TE Darren Waller ($5,400): Last week, Waller caught one of two targets for 50 yards and a touchdown, and he’s typically a threat to score. In Week 2, he scored twice on only three targets. But therein lies the issue. Three tight ends are playing around 50% of snaps and splitting targets evenly. The matchup isn’t a good one for tight ends, as Green Bay has allowed the second-fewest FPTS to the position.
Outcome
The Packers should control this one on the ground, with Jacobs back and Lambeau Leaping a few times. That would slow the game down and limit offensive possessions. It also gives the opportunistic Packers defense juice.
