The Atlanta Falcons still have a shot at the playoffs as they prepare to face the Carolina Panthers to close out the regular season.
The Falcons’ playoff hopes took a hit with last week’s 30-24 overtime loss in Washington, so this is a must-win game in Week 18. The Panthers aren’t playing for anything as last week’s 48-14 blowout loss in Tampa Bay has all but assured they will finish last in the NFC South.
Atlanta is an 8.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with the total pegged at 47.5.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
While Carolina is already guaranteed to miss the playoffs for a seventh straight season, the Falcons are still playing for a shot at the postseason, although they’ll need a little help. For Atlanta to clinch the NFC South, they not only need to beat the Panthers, they also need the Buccaneers to lose at home against the Saints. For context, the NFL’s playoff probability is giving the Falcons an 11 per cent chance to make the playoffs.
Luckily for Atlanta, the Panthers are one of the worst road teams in the NFL, going 1-6 in away dates this season. Meanwhile, the Falcons are an even 4-4 both at home and on the road. Atlanta has also won seven of their last nine home games against Carolina.
Neither team has been a great cover option in 2024, but the Panthers have trended up in recent weeks. Carolina is 6-2 against the spread in their last eight games, while the Falcons have covered just once in their last seven.
These teams trend in opposite directions when it comes to totals betting. The Panthers have hit the Over 12 times and Atlanta has played the Under 10 times.
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers can play spoiler this week and despite technically having nothing to play for, I think they’ll hang around in this game. Quarterback Bryce Young has been trending upward, throwing for 202 yards and two TDs last week against Tampa Bay. After being benched earlier this season, Young has looked much better and has actually been one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league since Week 9. The stats back Young up as he’s thrown a TD pass in nine straight games and he’s avoided throwing an interception in five of his last seven games.
Atlanta Falcons
This is obviously a huge game for the Falcons and rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. as they are officially in win-or-go-home territory. However, I’m skeptical Penix is ready to drag Atlanta into the playoffs. He only has two career NFL starts under his belt, so it’s a lot to put on his shoulders. Penix has decent passing yardage with 425 total passing yards in those two starts, but he has just one passing TD and two interceptions. He’s not committing as many turnovers as Kirk Cousins was and I still think the Falcons do enough to win, but I think they get it done more by committee rather than because of Penix.
NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Panthers vs. Falcons?
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 30 Dec 6:04am | - | - | O +47.5 -115 |
Closing 5 Jan 8:53pm | - | - | O +76.5 -110 |
- Regular Season
Panthers Team Leaders
Touchdowns |
11 |
Rushing |
1195 |
Passing |
2403 |
Receiving |
49 |
Sacks |
5.5 |
Interceptions |
3 |
Touchdowns |
9 |
Rushing |
644 |
Passing |
3508 |
Receiving |
100 |
Sacks |
6 |
Interceptions |
4 |
- Regular Season
Falcons Team Leaders
Touchdowns |
11 |
Rushing |
1195 |
Passing |
2403 |
Receiving |
49 |
Sacks |
5.5 |
Interceptions |
3 |
Touchdowns |
9 |
Rushing |
644 |
Passing |
3508 |
Receiving |
100 |
Sacks |
6 |
Interceptions |
4 |
Weather

condition | dome |
Injuries
Jadeveon Clowney (LB)
DJ Johnson (LB)
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (DB)
Xavier Legette (WR)
D.J. Wonnum (LB)
A'Shawn Robinson (DE)
Amare Barno (LB)
Jadeveon Clowney (LB)
Chuba Hubbard (RB)
Josey Jewell (LB)
Brandon Dorlus (DT)
Dee Alford (CB)
Matthew Bergeron (OL)
JD Bertrand (LB)
Lorenzo Carter (LB)
Zach Harrison (DL)
Nate Landman (LB)
Drake London (WR)
Darnell Mooney (WR)
David Onyemata (DL)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jadeveon Clowney (LB) | Questionable | Personal - 03 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Clowney has been sidelined due to personal reasons, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
DJ Johnson (LB) | Questionable | Personal - 03 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Johnson is out of lineup due to personal reasons, and it remains to be seen if he will be active in the next match. |
|||||
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (DB) | Questionable | Shoulder - 03 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Johnson Jr. is battling with a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play in the next game. |
|||||
Xavier Legette (WR) | Questionable | Hip - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Legette is nursing with a hip injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
D.J. Wonnum (LB) | Questionable | Knee - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Wonnum is battling with a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
A'Shawn Robinson (DE) | Questionable | Neck - 01 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Robinson is hampered by a neck injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
Amare Barno (LB) | Questionable | Knee - 26 / 12 / 24 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Barno is nursing a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for the next game. |
|||||
Jadeveon Clowney (LB) | Questionable | Knee - 26 / 12 / 24 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Clowney is nursing a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Buccaneers on Sunday, December 29th. |
|||||
Chuba Hubbard (RB) | Out indefinitely | Knee - 26 / 12 / 24 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Hubbard has been placed on injured reserve with by a knee injury, and he will miss an extended period. |
|||||
Josey Jewell (LB) | Questionable | Concussion - 26 / 12 / 24 | 1-1 | 2-0 | + - |
Jewell is nursing a concussion, and it is unknown if he will suit up for the next game. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brandon Dorlus (DT) | Questionable | Abdominal - 03 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Dorlus is managing an abdominal injury, and it remains to be seen if he will take the field for next match. |
|||||
Dee Alford (CB) | Questionable | Groin - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Alford is dealing with a groin injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
Matthew Bergeron (OL) | Questionable | Hand - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Bergeron is fighting off a hand injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
JD Bertrand (LB) | Questionable | Eye - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Bertrand is managing an eye injury, and it is unknown if he will take the field for next game. |
|||||
Lorenzo Carter (LB) | Questionable | Oblique - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Carter is battling an oblique injury, and it is unknown if he will take the field against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
Zach Harrison (DL) | Questionable | Achilles - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Harrison is dealing with a achilles injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
Nate Landman (LB) | Questionable | Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Landman is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up against Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
Drake London (WR) | Questionable | Knee - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
London is bothered with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
|||||
Darnell Mooney (WR) | Questionable | Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Mooney is hampered with a shoulder injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for next game. |
|||||
David Onyemata (DL) | Questionable | Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25 | 0-1 | 1-0 | + - |
Onyemata is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it remains to be seen if he will participate against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th. |
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 30 Dec 6:04am - - O +47.5 -115 Closing 5 Jan 8:53pm - - O +76.5 -110 -
- Regular Season
Panthers Team Leaders
Touchdowns 11
Rushing 1195
Passing 2403
Receiving 49
Sacks 5.5
Interceptions 3
Touchdowns 9
Rushing 644
Passing 3508
Receiving 100
Sacks 6
Interceptions 4
-
- Regular Season
Falcons Team Leaders
Touchdowns 11
Rushing 1195
Passing 2403
Receiving 49
Sacks 5.5
Interceptions 3
Touchdowns 9
Rushing 644
Passing 3508
Receiving 100
Sacks 6
Interceptions 4
-
Weather
condition dome -
Injuries
Jadeveon Clowney (LB)
Questionable Personal - 03 / 01 / 25DJ Johnson (LB)
Questionable Personal - 03 / 01 / 25Lonnie Johnson Jr. (DB)
Questionable Shoulder - 03 / 01 / 25Xavier Legette (WR)
Questionable Hip - 02 / 01 / 25D.J. Wonnum (LB)
Questionable Knee - 02 / 01 / 25A'Shawn Robinson (DE)
Questionable Neck - 01 / 01 / 25Amare Barno (LB)
Questionable Knee - 26 / 12 / 24Jadeveon Clowney (LB)
Questionable Knee - 26 / 12 / 24Chuba Hubbard (RB)
Out indefinitely Knee - 26 / 12 / 24Josey Jewell (LB)
Questionable Concussion - 26 / 12 / 24Brandon Dorlus (DT)
Questionable Abdominal - 03 / 01 / 25Dee Alford (CB)
Questionable Groin - 02 / 01 / 25Matthew Bergeron (OL)
Questionable Hand - 02 / 01 / 25JD Bertrand (LB)
Questionable Eye - 02 / 01 / 25Lorenzo Carter (LB)
Questionable Oblique - 02 / 01 / 25Zach Harrison (DL)
Questionable Achilles - 02 / 01 / 25Nate Landman (LB)
Questionable Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25Drake London (WR)
Questionable Knee - 02 / 01 / 25Darnell Mooney (WR)
Questionable Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25David Onyemata (DL)
Questionable Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Jadeveon Clowney (LB) Questionable Personal - 03 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Clowney has been sidelined due to personal reasons, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th.
DJ Johnson (LB) Questionable Personal - 03 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Johnson is out of lineup due to personal reasons, and it remains to be seen if he will be active in the next match.
Lonnie Johnson Jr. (DB) Questionable Shoulder - 03 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Johnson Jr. is battling with a shoulder injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play in the next game.
Xavier Legette (WR) Questionable Hip - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Legette is nursing with a hip injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th.
D.J. Wonnum (LB) Questionable Knee - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Wonnum is battling with a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th.
A'Shawn Robinson (DE) Questionable Neck - 01 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Robinson is hampered by a neck injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the 49ers on Sunday, January 5th.
Amare Barno (LB) Questionable Knee - 26 / 12 / 24 1-1 2-0 + - Barno is nursing a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up for the next game.
Jadeveon Clowney (LB) Questionable Knee - 26 / 12 / 24 1-1 2-0 + - Clowney is nursing a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will suit up against the Buccaneers on Sunday, December 29th.
Chuba Hubbard (RB) Out indefinitely Knee - 26 / 12 / 24 1-1 2-0 + - Hubbard has been placed on injured reserve with by a knee injury, and he will miss an extended period.
Josey Jewell (LB) Questionable Concussion - 26 / 12 / 24 1-1 2-0 + - Jewell is nursing a concussion, and it is unknown if he will suit up for the next game.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Brandon Dorlus (DT) Questionable Abdominal - 03 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Dorlus is managing an abdominal injury, and it remains to be seen if he will take the field for next match.
Dee Alford (CB) Questionable Groin - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Alford is dealing with a groin injury, and it remains to be seen if he will return to action against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.
Matthew Bergeron (OL) Questionable Hand - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Bergeron is fighting off a hand injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.
JD Bertrand (LB) Questionable Eye - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Bertrand is managing an eye injury, and it is unknown if he will take the field for next game.
Lorenzo Carter (LB) Questionable Oblique - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Carter is battling an oblique injury, and it is unknown if he will take the field against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.
Zach Harrison (DL) Questionable Achilles - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Harrison is dealing with a achilles injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.
Nate Landman (LB) Questionable Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Landman is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will suit up against Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.
Drake London (WR) Questionable Knee - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - London is bothered with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will dress against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.
Darnell Mooney (WR) Questionable Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Mooney is hampered with a shoulder injury, and it is unclear if he will be active for next game.
David Onyemata (DL) Questionable Shoulder - 02 / 01 / 25 0-1 1-0 + - Onyemata is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it remains to be seen if he will participate against the Panthers on Sunday, January 5th.