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?

• Regular Season

Jets Team Leaders

NYJ

Touchdowns	Corey Davis 3
Rushing	Michael Carter 165
Passing	Zach Wilson 1117
Receiving	Corey Davis 20
Sacks	Quinnen Williams 3.5
Interceptions	Josh Adams 0

CAR

Touchdowns	DJ Moore 3
Rushing	Chuba Hubbard 220
Passing	Sam Darnold 1366
Receiving	DJ Moore 35
Sacks	Haason Reddick 6.5
Interceptions	Donte Jackson 1

• Regular Season

Panthers Team Leaders

NYJ

Touchdowns	Corey Davis 3
Rushing	Michael Carter 165
Passing	Zach Wilson 1117
Receiving	Corey Davis 20
Sacks	Quinnen Williams 3.5
Interceptions	Josh Adams 0

CAR

Touchdowns	DJ Moore 3
Rushing	Chuba Hubbard 220
Passing	Sam Darnold 1366
Receiving	DJ Moore 35
Sacks	Haason Reddick 6.5
Interceptions	Donte Jackson 1

Weather

temp	84
condition	sunny
wind	Southwest 5mph

Injuries

N.Y. Jets

Tyler Kroft (TE)

Ques Week 7 Back - 07 / 10 / 21

Denzel Mims (WR)

Prob Sun Illness - 07 / 10 / 21

Nathan Shepherd (DL)

Prob Sun Knee - 07 / 10 / 21

Adrian Colbert (DB)

Ques Week 7 Concussion - 07 / 10 / 21

Hamsah Nasirildeen (LB)

Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 05 / 10 / 21

Brandin Echols (CB)

Prob Sun Concussion - 03 / 10 / 21

Jarrod Wilson (DB)

Prob Sun Ribs - 03 / 10 / 21

Marcus Maye (S)

Late Oct Ankle - 29 / 09 / 21

Jeff Smith (WR)

Ques Week 7 Concussion - 29 / 09 / 21

Tyler Kroft (TE)

Prob Sun Ribs - 26 / 09 / 21

Carolina

Deonte Brown (G)

Out indefinitely Knee - 15 / 10 / 21

Kamal Martin (LB)

Out Sun Concussion - 15 / 10 / 21

C.J. Henderson (CB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 15 / 10 / 21

Joseph Charlton (P)

Out indefinitely Back - 14 / 10 / 21

Matt Paradis (C)

Prob Sun Illness - 08 / 10 / 21

John Miller (G)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 07 / 10 / 21

Haason Reddick (LB)

Prob Sun Neck - 07 / 10 / 21

Cameron Erving (T)

Prob Sun Neck - 06 / 10 / 21

Shaq Thompson (LB)

Out Sun Foot - 04 / 10 / 21

Shaq Thompson (LB)

Prob Sun Back - 30 / 09 / 21

Injuries

N.Y. Jets

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyler Kroft (TE)	Ques Week 7	Back - 07 / 10 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Kroft was held out of the previous game with a back injury, and it remains to be seen if he will dress for Week 7 versus the Patriots.
Denzel Mims (WR)	Prob Sun	Illness - 07 / 10 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Mims is ailing from an illness, but it is projected that he will participate against the Falcons on Sunday.
Nathan Shepherd (DL)	Prob Sun	Knee - 07 / 10 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Shepherd is bothered by a knee issue, but it is expected that he will be available against the Falcons on Sunday.
Adrian Colbert (DB)	Ques Week 7	Concussion - 07 / 10 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Colbert missed the last game due to a concussion, and it is unknown if he will pass protocol prior to Week 7 versus the Patriots.
Hamsah Nasirildeen (LB)	Out indefinitely	Undisclosed - 05 / 10 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Nasirlideen has been placed on the injured reserve list with an undisclosed injury, and a date for he return is unknown.
Brandin Echols (CB)	Prob Sun	Concussion - 03 / 10 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Echois was removed from the last game due to a concussion, but it is likely that he will suit up Sunday versus the Falcons.
Jarrod Wilson (DB)	Prob Sun	Ribs - 03 / 10 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Wilson was removed from the last contest due to a rib injury, but it is likely that he will be active Sunday versus the Falcons.
Marcus Maye (S)	Late Oct	Ankle - 29 / 09 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Maye is out of commission for three to four weeks with an ankle injury.
Jeff Smith (WR)	Ques Week 7	Concussion - 29 / 09 / 21	1-1	1-1	+ -
Smith has sat out the last two contests due to a concussion, and it is up in the air if he will pass protocol in time for Week 7 versus the Patriots.
Tyler Kroft (TE)	Prob Sun	Ribs - 26 / 09 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Kroft was removed from the last game with a rib injury, and he will not dress for Sunday's tilt against the Titans.

Carolina

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deonte Brown (G)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 15 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Brown has ended up on the injured reserve list due to a knee ailment, and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup.
Kamal Martin (LB)	Out Sun	Concussion - 15 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Martin has a concussion, and he will not pass protocol prior to Sunday's showdown with the Vikings.
C.J. Henderson (CB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 15 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Henderson is expected to play against the Vikings on Sunday despite a shoulder issue.
Joseph Charlton (P)	Out indefinitely	Back - 14 / 10 / 21	0-1	0-1	+ -
Charlton has been shifted to the injured reserve list due to a back injury, and a date for his return has yet to be established.
Matt Paradis (C)	Prob Sun	Illness - 08 / 10 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Paradis is expected to take on the Eagles on Sunday despite an illness.
John Miller (G)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 07 / 10 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Miller is expected to line up for Sunday's battle with the Eagles despite a shoulder injury.
Haason Reddick (LB)	Prob Sun	Neck - 07 / 10 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Reddick is likely to take part in Sunday's clash with the Eagles despite a neck injury.
Cameron Erving (T)	Prob Sun	Neck - 06 / 10 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Erving missed the last game with a neck injury, but is is projected that he will suit up Sunday against the Vikings.
Shaq Thompson (LB)	Out Sun	Foot - 04 / 10 / 21	0-2	1-1	+ -
Thompson was held out of the previous contest with a foot injury, and he will not be available Sunday against the Vikings.
Shaq Thompson (LB)	Prob Sun	Back - 30 / 09 / 21	1-2	1-2	+ -
Thompson is likely to lace up against the Cowboys on Sunday despite a back injury.