Falcons vs. Panthers Prediction
NFC South rivals on the fringe of the wild card race will meet in Carolina on Sunday when the Panthers host the Falcons at 1:00 p.m. ET. Are the Panthers a safe play as a 2.5-point home favorite or is there a better play on the board?
Game Snapshot
115 Atlanta Falcons (+2.5) at 116 Carolina Panthers (-2.5); o/u 41
1:00 p.m. ET, Sunday, December 12, 2021
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
TV: FOX
Atlanta Falcons DFS Spin
Matt Ryan completed 30-of-41 passes for 297 yards in Atlanta’s 30-17 Week 13 loss to the Bucs. Atlanta opened the game hot from the ground, moving the ball with a 39-yard run from Cordarrelle Patterson and 17-yard touchdown from Mike Davis. That’s where it ended as their offense failed to reach the end zone for the rest of the game, benefitting from a pick-six at the three-yard line for points. Ryan’s pass protection (or lack thereof) was the difference as the Bucs lived in Atlanta’s backfield for 10 quarterback hits and five sacks, three that killed multiple drives on third down. The Falcons have now gone 0-7 at Mercedes Benz Stadium since November 29, 2020, more than a full calendar year without a win at home. The Panthers’ pass rush could prove to be a problem for Ryan in Week 14.
Carolina Panthers DFS Spin
Panthers coach Matt Rhule said backup QB P.J. Walker is “definitely an option” as a change-of-pace quarterback against the Falcons. For what it’s worth, the last time Rhule mentioned Walker mixing in the latter didn’t log a single snap behind Cam Newton. With a few additional days to implement Jeff Nixon’s offense over the bye, we fully expect Newton handle every rep barring a blowout. He remains a low-end QB1 with rushing upside since 55% of his fantasy points this year have come via the ground.
NFL Week 14 Betting Prediction
The Falcons are 9-3 against the spread in their last 12 games against the Panthers and have covered in four of their last five games in Charlotte. The road team is also 5-1 against the number in the last six meetings while the underdog has cashed in four of the last five meetings between these rivals. The Panthers are also just 2-7 against the spread in their last nine games overall, are 1-7 against the number in their last eight games as a home favorite and they’ve failed to cover in each of their last four home games.
NFL WEEK 14 PREDICTION: ATLANTA FALCONS +2.5