The Falcons and Panthers are set for a primetime showdown to kick off Week 8. Atlanta blew yet another seemingly sealed game, their late lead against the Lions disappearing in the waning moments. Todd Gurley accidentally scored a touchdown instead of falling at the 1-yard line.
Gurley’s decision to do that made it so that the Lions would have the final possession. The team would have been able to kick a short field goal with no time on the clock.
But then, well, Gurley incidentally couldn’t stop his momentum after breaking a tackle. And on the ensuing possession, Matthew Stafford led the Lions down the field for the winning TD.
Carolina also came up short last week, taking their second loss in a row. They had been sitting pretty at 3-2 but are now a game under .500.
They will also have to wait another week before Christian McCaffrey can make his return, but it’s promising that he’s so close. As good as Mike Davis has been for them, it’d be nice to have one of the best backs in football in the lineup.
ODDS:
The spread for Thursday’s game favors Carolina by 2.5 points. The over/under is set at 51.5.
Atlanta Seeking Second Win
At worst, the Falcons should be sitting at 3-4, but they have a 1-6 record because of their late-game incompetence. Many blamed it on Kyle Shanahan in the Super Bowl when they blew a 28-3 lead, and rightfully so.
But he’s been gone three years. What’s the excuse now? They fired Dan Quinn, and yet nothing changed.
It’s tough to see them lose like this as Matt Ryan continues to tear it up every week. Julio Jones is still one of the top receivers in the league, while Calvin Ridley is approaching star status right next to him. They even brought in Gurley, and yet the run game hasn’t done too much.
The Falcons must step their game up in every aspect in order to win.
Panthers Looking to Climb Back to .500
As McCaffrey has been out, Davis has been able to step his game up in a way we have never seen. Davis has played the role of McCaffrey very effectively, coming out as one of the lead fantasy running backs along the way.
Teddy Bridgewater has been doing a nice job in his first year on the Panthers, moving the ball well and building a great rapport with his receivers. DJ Moore has been stepping his game up in recent weeks, while Robby Anderson looks like one of the biggest steals of the offseason.
The defense will have their work cut out for them, with the great receivers of the Falcons likely to carve them up. If the corners don’t bring their best, it will be a tough night.
Panthers Win Big, Get Back to .500
A win for Carolina is coming as they will make it back to the .500 mark. Atlanta drops to a lowly 1-7.
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