The Carolina Panthers preserved their unbeaten record this season with an impressive 19-point victory over New Orleans on Sunday. The Panthers will look to keep their hot start going this coming Thursday when they take on the Houston Texans in an intriguing matchup at the NRG Stadium. Read our preview of this Panthers vs Texans clash.
Carolina Panthers enter Week 3 as -7.5 favorites
On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers will head to their showdown with Houston with momentum on their side after crushing the New Orleans Saints, 26-7. Sam Darnold continued to thrive in his new team, completing 26 of 38 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against the Saints.
On the run. On the mark. Sam Darnold delivers! #KeepPounding
— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
📺: #NOvsCAR on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/xi6FC8MZdy
The key to Carolina's hot start has been its incredible defense. The Panthers are tops in the NFL in several defensive categories, including scoring defense (10.5 points per game), total defense (190 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (46.5 yards per game), and passing defense (143.5 yards per game).
They held the high-powered Saints offense to just 128 total yards on Sunday. The Panthers even buckled down on their third-down defense, with New Orleans converting just two of its 11 third-down chances.
On Sunday, they managed to limit two of the Saints' main offensive stars in Alvin Kamara and Jameis Winston. Winston failed to throw a single touchdown against the Panthers' D a week after throwing five touchdowns in the Week 1 win against Green Bay. Kamara was held to just five yards on eight carries in Week 2 as the Saints' ground game faltered as well.
The Panthers will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Texans offense without starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor this coming Thursday.
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Houston Texans installed as +7.5 underdogs
There won't be a grand return for Deshaun Watson in Week 3 with Houston coach David Culley confirming on Monday that he has no plans to activate the former Texans quarterback for Thursday night's matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
The Texans have a dilemma in their quarterback ranks after Tyrod Taylor suffered a left hamstring injury in the 31-21 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Culley left the door open for a Watson return after the defeat but decided to keep him inactive for the Week 3 clash a day later.
Though Taylor is currently listed as day-to-day, he is expected to miss some time due to the injury, with NFL Network's Tom Pelissero saying that he will be out for a while and certainly won't play on Thursday night. With Taylor sidelined and Watson still inactive, the Texans would likely turn to rookie Davis Mills as their starting quarterback against the Panthers.
Davis Mills with his first career touchdown pass 👏 @Millsions #WeAreTexans
— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
📺: #HOUvsCLE on CBS
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/3nnYnt3Sl8
Mills, who the Texans selected with the No. 67 overall pick in this year's draft, saw action in the second half of the game against the Browns. In that brief stint, the former Stanford star completed 8 of 18 passes for 102 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
However, Mills will have his work cut out for him against a Texans defense that leads the NFL in quarterback hits (21) and sacks (10).
Writer's Prediction
The panthers win and cover the spread.
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