Sam Darnold will be facing his old teammates when he makes his regular season debut with the Carolina.  It’s a Week 1 home date for the Panthers as they face the New York Jets at Bank of America Stadium. Darnold was dealt to Carolina in the offseason and is expected to help the Panthers improve after dismal 5-11 campaign in 2020. Selected second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson takes over the daunting task of running a Jets offence that ranked dead last in the NFL in points scored last season.

The point spread for this Week 1 contest has remained steady since preseason action got underway, with the Panthers pegged as 5.5-point favourites to win on the NFL odds, while the total is listed at 44.5.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

This Sunday afternoon contest marks the first meeting between these two teams since 2017. The Panthers hold a narrow edge in head-to-head action, going 4-3 straight up in seven dates with New York since 1995. That includes a stretch of three wins in their past four clashes. The Panthers scored at least 30 points in each of those victories, including two outright wins on home turf as loft favourites. Carolina also holds a clear edge against the spread, going 2-4-1, including a 3-0-1 mark in their past four home dates with the Jets.

The Jets open the new season with plenty of work to do to reverse a dismal 5-24 run on the road since October 2017. But the Panthers have not been much better playing on home turf, going 2-10 straight up in their past 12 dates at Bank of America Stadium, while going 0-5 straight up and against the spread as home chalk during that stretch.

New York Jets

The Jets will be aiming to carry over their recent success in preseason action into Week 1. The squad went undefeated in a trio of August matchups, posting road wins over the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers, before closing things out at home with a 31-31 draw with Philadelphia.

Wilson impressed in limited action, particularly in New York’s 23-14 win in Green Bay. He passed for 128 yards and a pair of first-half TDs to give the Jets a lead they would not relinquish. However, concerns linger over the health of Jamison Crowder. The Jets’ most productive receiver in 2020 has been absent from practice as he battles a groin injury, and his status should be carefully monitored.

Carolina Panthers

Darnold took the lion’s share of the snaps in Carolina’s August finale, and raised the hopes of loyal Panthers sports bettors in the process. The former third overall pick connected on 19 of 25 pass attempts, and found the end zone twice, while leading Carolina to their lone preseason victory, a 34-9 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Panthers defence also stood tall against Pittsburgh, limiting the Steelers to just 221 total yards. That marks a dramatic turnaround after allowing an average of 390 total yards in August losses to Indianapolis and Baltimore. However, the Panthers have fared well at protecting the ball, committing just one total turnover in preseason action.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Jets vs. Panthers?