NFL ·
9/22/21 THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PANTHERS VS TEXANS, GAME-TOTAL-PARLAY
PANTHERS vs. TEXANS 9/23/21
3-0 MASSIVE WINNING DAY!
PANTHERS -8(10*)MAX - WINNER
CAR-HOU UNDER 43(10*)MAX - WINNER
TEASER
2-TEAM 6-PNT(10*)MAX - WINNER
PANTHERS -2
UNDER 49
One of the bright surprises thus far in the 2021 NFL season is the emergence of QB Sam Darnold and the Carolina Panthers. After two weeks, the Panthers are 2-0 and Darnold looks nothing like the confused young signal-caller that he did when he was in New York. Darnold has completed nearly 69 percent of his passes for 584 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina’s two wins. The best thing for Darnold is that he hasn’t had to do it by himself.
Carolina’s defense held Darnold’s former team, the Jets, to 14 points in Week 1 and then obliterated Jameis Winston and the Saints in Week 2. Head coach Matt Rhule’s defense sacked Winston four times and picked him off twice. That was after Winston had thrown five touchdown passes in a Week 1 win over Green Bay.
The Panthers are now a 7.5-point favorite to win on the road at Houston thanks to the status of Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The Houston veteran pulled up lame with an injured hamstring in last week’s loss to Cleveland. It is unknown just yet whether or not Taylor will be able to go on Thursday night. Should he not be able to play, Houston would likely go to Davis Mills who came on against the Browns and posted mediocre numbers. Mills went 8-of-18 for 102 yards and did throw a touchdown pass.
If Mills does start, he will need the Houston ground game – Mark Ingram, Philip Lindsay, and David Johnson – to step up. The Texans are averaging 121 rushing yards per game. To take some of the pressure off of Mills that number will likely need to be higher. The problem is a Carolina defense that allowed the Jets 45 rushing yards and the Saints just 48.
Carolina covered the spread in their first two games this season to push their ATS record to 7-3 in their last ten games. Houston has also covered in their first two games giving them an identical 7-3 ATS record in their last ten games. The teams last played in 2019. Carolina won 16-10 as a 5.5-point favorite.
Houston and Carolina have only played each other five times. The Under has been a trend. It is 4-1 in the five games. The total has gone Under in each of the Panthers last five games. Thursday’s total is a rather low 43, which is indicative of Carolina’s defense and the possibility that Houston plays with a backup quarterback.