After a 3-0 start to the season the Panthers fell off a cliff and now sit at 3-4 on the year.  Things aren’t about to get any easier for Carolina, as they’re heading to Atlanta to face a 3-3 Falcons team that has won two straight games and three of their last four.

Atlanta is a 3-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 46.0.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

These teams split the season series last year, with the road team winning each game by about a touchdown.  The total has gone Under in four of the last five meetings.  Early Sports Interaction bettors are heavily siding with the Falcons, directing 71 per cent of bets Atlanta’s way.  The total is a more even split, with a slight 54 per cent majority taking the Under.

Carolina’s four-game losing streak has sparked rumours about a major trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, although it appears Miami is the front runner in that case.  The bad streaks continue for the Panthers, as they have failed to cover in four straight games after starting the season 3-0 against the spread.  This team trends toward the Under, as five of their seven games this season and four of their last five on the road have gone below the number.

Atlanta has looked good over their last few stretch of games, but it’s worth noting they’re just 1-7 straight up in their eight games against NFC teams.  They’re an even 3-3 ATS for the season, although they’ve failed to cover in two of three home games.  The total has gone Over in four of the Falcons’ last five games.

Carolina Panthers

It will be interesting to see how Sam Darnold responds after getting called out by head coach Matt Rhule following Carolina’s 25-3 loss to the Giants.  The Panthers’ three points and 173 total yards are team lows since Rhule took over last season.  Darnold was yanked from the game in the fourth quarter after going 16-for-25 with just 111 passing yards, no touchdowns and an interception.  Despite the poor performance, Rhule said Darnold will start this week and continue to be the No. 1 QB going forward.

It’s clear Carolina’s offence is lost without Christian McCaffrey.  The star running back has been on injured reserve since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3 and he’ll miss at least one more game.  Rookie Chuba Hubbard has started in McCaffrey’s place.  Hubbard has picked up 304 rushing yards and a TD on the year and also added another 110 receiving yards.

Atlanta Falcons

It was Atlanta’s offence that got the job done in last week’s 30-28 win in Miami.  Matt Ryan was 25-for-40 passing, with two touchdowns and an interception.  Nearly half of Ryan’s 336 passing yards – 136 – went to rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, who has 282 receiving yards and a touchdown in his last two games.  The Falcons trailed 7-0 after the first quarter before putting up 20 straight points.

The biggest issue for Atlanta right now appears to be the defence.  The Falcons gave up 413 yards total yards and allowed Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa to throw a career-high four touchdowns.  A big part of those struggles is the banged up secondary, with Atlanta’s top three cornerbacks injured.  Avery Williams has missed two straight games with a hamstring injury, while A.J. Terrell (concussion/neck) and Fabian Moreau (neck) both left early against the Dolphins.  Safety Erik Harris (shoulder) was also forced to leave the game early last week.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Panthers vs. Falcons?

• Regular Season

Panthers Team Leaders

CAR

Touchdowns	DJ Moore 4
Rushing	Christian McCaffrey 442
Passing	Sam Darnold 1986
Receiving	DJ Moore 66
Sacks	Haason Reddick 10.5
Interceptions	Shaq Thompson 2

ATL

Touchdowns	Cordarrelle Patterson 9
Rushing	Cordarrelle Patterson 411
Passing	Matt Ryan 2617
Receiving	Kyle Pitts 45
Sacks	Dante Fowler Jr. 3.5
Interceptions	Jaylinn Hawkins 2

• Regular Season

Falcons Team Leaders

CAR

Touchdowns	DJ Moore 4
Rushing	Christian McCaffrey 442
Passing	Sam Darnold 1986
Receiving	DJ Moore 66
Sacks	Haason Reddick 10.5
Interceptions	Shaq Thompson 2

ATL

Touchdowns	Cordarrelle Patterson 9
Rushing	Cordarrelle Patterson 411
Passing	Matt Ryan 2617
Receiving	Kyle Pitts 45
Sacks	Dante Fowler Jr. 3.5
Interceptions	Jaylinn Hawkins 2

Weather

temp	58
condition	cloudy
wind	Northwest 12mph

Injuries

Carolina

Christian McCaffrey (RB)

Ques Week 14 Ankle - 28 / 11 / 21

DaQuan Jones (DT)

Prob Sun Knee - 25 / 11 / 21

Myles Hartsfield (DB)

Prob Sun Wrist - 24 / 11 / 21

John Miller (G)

Ques Week 14 Ankle - 24 / 11 / 21

Dennis Daley (G)

Prob Sun Buttocks - 21 / 11 / 21

Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)

Prob Sun Ankle - 19 / 11 / 21

Joseph Charlton (P)

Prob Sun Back - 17 / 11 / 21

Marquis Haynes (DE)

Prob Sun Foot - 17 / 11 / 21

Frankie Luvu (LB)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 17 / 11 / 21

Christian McCaffrey (RB)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 17 / 11 / 21

Atlanta

Deion Jones (LB)

day-to-day Shoulder - 26 / 11 / 21

D'Onta Foreman (RB)

Ques Sun Tricep - 24 / 11 / 21

Dustin Colquitt (P)

Out indefinitely Illness - 22 / 11 / 21

Jonathan Bullard (DL)

day-to-day Knee - 19 / 11 / 21

Jaylinn Hawkins (S)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 11 / 21

Hayden Hurst (TE)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 15 / 11 / 21

Kendall Sheffield (DB)

day-to-day Hamstring - 15 / 11 / 21

Cordarrelle Patterson (RB)

Prob Sun Ankle - 15 / 11 / 21

Daren Bates (LB)

Out indefinitely Groin - 14 / 11 / 21

Lee Smith (TE)

Prob Thurs Back - 10 / 11 / 21

Injuries

Carolina

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Christian McCaffrey (RB)	Ques Week 14	Ankle - 28 / 11 / 21	0-1	1-0	+ -
McCaffrey is bothered by a rolled left ankle, and it is unknown if he will be available in Week 14 versus the Falcons.
DaQuan Jones (DT)	Prob Sun	Knee - 25 / 11 / 21	0-1	1-0	+ -
Jones is expected to line up against the Dolphins on Sunday despite a knee issue.
Myles Hartsfield (DB)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 24 / 11 / 21	0-1	1-0	+ -
Hartsfield has a wrist injury, but it is projected that he will take the field against the Dolphins on Sunday.
John Miller (G)	Ques Week 14	Ankle - 24 / 11 / 21	0-1	1-0	+ -
Miller was absent from the last game due to an ankle injury, leaving his availability for Week 14 battle with the Falcons clouded.
Dennis Daley (G)	Prob Sun	Buttocks - 21 / 11 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Daley exited the last contest with a glute injury, but it is likely that he will be active on Sunday versus the Dolphins.
Yetur Gross-Matos (DE)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 19 / 11 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Gross-Matos is expected to face the Washington Football Team on Sunday despite an ankle injury.
Joseph Charlton (P)	Prob Sun	Back - 17 / 11 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Charlton has been activated from the Injured Reserve/Designated for Return list after recovering from a back injury, and he is expected to line up against the Washington Football Team on Sunday.
Marquis Haynes (DE)	Prob Sun	Foot - 17 / 11 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Haynes has a foot injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Sunday's game versus the Washington Football Team.
Frankie Luvu (LB)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 17 / 11 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Luvu is hindered by a shoulder issue, but it is likely that he will play against the Washington Football Team on Sunday.
Christian McCaffrey (RB)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 17 / 11 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
McCaffrey is expected to line up against the Washington Football Team on Sunday despite a hamstring injury.

Atlanta

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Deion Jones (LB)	day-to-day	Shoulder - 26 / 11 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Jones sat out the last game with a shoulder injury, and it is uncertain if he will play against the Buccaneers in Week 13.
D'Onta Foreman (RB)	Ques Sun	Tricep - 24 / 11 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Foreman is tending to a triceps injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Patriots on Sunday.
Dustin Colquitt (P)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 22 / 11 / 21	1-1	0-2	+ -
Colquitt has been added to the IR/COVID-19 list, and he will miss an unknown period of time.
Jonathan Bullard (DL)	day-to-day	Knee - 19 / 11 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Bullard was absent from the previous game with a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will be available against the Buccaneers in Week 13.
Jaylinn Hawkins (S)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 11 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Hawkins is bothered by an ankle injury, but is likely that he will be in Sunday's lineup against the Jaguars.
Hayden Hurst (TE)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 15 / 11 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Hurst has hit the injured reserve list with an ankle injury, and it is uncertain how long he will be idle.
Kendall Sheffield (DB)	day-to-day	Hamstring - 15 / 11 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Sheffield missed the last contest tending to a hamstring injury, and it remains to be seen if he will play against the Buccaneers in Week 13.
Cordarrelle Patterson (RB)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 15 / 11 / 21	1-2	0-3	+ -
Patterson is dealing with an ankle injury, but it is likely that he will suit up Sunday against the Jaguars.
Daren Bates (LB)	Out indefinitely	Groin - 14 / 11 / 21	2-2	1-3	+ -
Bates has wound up on the injured reserve list with a groin injury, and the severity of the ailment is unknown.
Lee Smith (TE)	Prob Thurs	Back - 10 / 11 / 21	2-2	1-3	+ -
Smith sat out the last contest with a back injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Thursday's matchup with the Patriots.