Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills Matchup Preview (12/19/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills Matchup Preview (12/19/21)

In week 15, the 5-8, Carolina Panthers travels to Buffalo to play the 7-6 Bills.  The Panthers are coming off a 29-21 loss to their division rival Atlanta Falcons in week 14.  In the game, Carolina had three giveaways and have lost eight of their last 10 games under second-year coach Matt Rhule after starting the season 3-0.  The Bills are coming off a tough overtime loss to the Buccaneers, 33-27 in week 14.  Buffalo is 2-3 in their last five games: averaging 25.6 points per game.

Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills Betting Odds

The Bills are a 10.5-point home favorite over the Panthers.  Carolina is 5-8 against the spread this season; 3-3 on the road.  The Panthers are 0-18 in games when allowing at least 22 points since 2020.  The Bills have scored over 30 points seven times this season.  Carolina is 4-0-1 against the spread in their last five games in Week 15.  Buffalo is 6-1-1 against the spread vs. a team with a losing record in 2021.  The Panthers are 8-1 against the spread in their last nine games as a road underdog. The Bills are 8-0 against the spread in their last eight games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game.

Carolina will play hard, but this is a team that lacks an offensive identity.  Matt Rhule fired offensive coordinator, Joe Brady less than two weeks ago.  This is a game Buffalo needs to win to remain in position to make the playoffs. 

My Prediction: I like the Bills to win but not at -10.5.  I would take the over at 44.5 points. 

TV Schedule

Date: 12/19/21
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Highmark Stadium – Orchard Park, NY
TV Coverage: FOX

Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills Live Stream

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Carolina Panthers Analysis

In 2021, the Panthers are averaging 310.6 yards of total offense per game, 27^th in the NFL.  They’re scoring 19.8 points per game which ranks them 24^th in the league.  

Against Atlanta in week 14, Carolina had at least 200 passing yards in a game for the first time in their last nine contests.  Cam Newton starting his third game for the Panthers this season, threw for 178 yards, an interception with a passer rating of 70.6.  Newton also added 47 yards rushing and touchdown.  The former number one pick in the 2011 draft has lost 11 straight starts for Carolina; his last win was in week 9 against Tampa Bay in the 2018 season.  Additionally, since 2018 he is 3-15 in games when he throws at least one interception.  On a positive note, the 2015 NFL MVP is the first quarterback in NFL history with at least one rushing touchdown in each of their first 4 games played of a season.  Per NFL.com, Newton has tied Earl Campbell for the most rushing touchdowns among number one overall picks in NFL history with 74.  In his four games back this season with the Panthers he has thrown for 467 yards, rushed for 112 yards, and has accounted for seven touchdowns (three passing and four rushing).  With Newton’s erratic play and at times simply looking like a shell of himself, expect back-up P.J. Walker to get playing time against Buffalo. 

Carolina’s ground attack is averaging 109.7 yards per game, 18^th in the league.  Chuba Hubbard, who has started six games this season leads the Panthers in rushing with 460 yards.  He’s scored four touchdowns and is averaging 35.4 yards per game in 2021. 

D.J. Moore is dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered vs. Atlanta and is listed as day to day.  Carolina’s leading receiver has 72 catches for 938 yards and four touchdowns: averaging 72.2 yards per game.  Robby Anderson had at least 50 receiving yards for the first time in his last 12 games.  On the season he is third on the team in receiving with 36 receptions for 372 yards and four touchdowns: averaging 10.3 yards per reception.  

The Carolina defense is allowing 293 yards per game; ranking them second in the league.  They’re allowing 21.7 points per game which is eighth in the NFL.  

Carolina Panthers Depth Chart

QB: Cam Newton
RB1: Chuba Hubbard
WR1: D.J. Moore
WR2: Robby Anderson
WR3: Terrace Marshall Jr.
TE1: Ian Thomas
TE2: Tommy Tremble

Buffalo Bills Analysis

The Bills offense is averaging 382.9 yards per game ranking them eighth in the NFL. They’re scoring 27.9 points per game which ranks them sixth in the league. 

Josh Allen led the Bills to overtime against the Buccaneers, but ultimately fell short.  The Buffalo quarterback passed for 308 yards, accounted for three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing), threw an interception, and rushed for 109 yards.  Allen has thrown 11 interceptions this season; he’s thrown 10 or fewer interceptions in each of his previous two seasons.  The Wyoming product is 2-13 in his career as starter when trailing by at least 10 points at any point in a game.  He has 13 300-yard passing games in his career.  On the season, the seventh pick in the 2018 draft has accounted for 4,055 yards of total offense (3,524 passing and 531 rushing).  He’s also thrown 28 touchdowns and rushed for another four in 2021.  He has rushed for 29 career touchdowns, second most by a quarterback in their first four seasons per NFL.com.  Currently, Josh Allen is listed at +2000 to win the 2021 NFL MVP.  

Buffalo’s rushing attack is averaging 121.9 yards per game this season.  Devin Singletary is the Bills leading rusher with 547 yards; averaging 4.9 yards per carry.  In the loss to Tampa Bay, he had 52 yards rushing on four carries: averaging 13 yards a carry.  

Against the Buccaneers in week 14, Stefon Diggs had seven receptions for 74 yards: averaging 10.6 yards per reception.  Diggs leads the team with 78 receptions for 972 yards: while scoring seven touchdowns.  He has 45 touchdown receptions in 99 career games.  Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders have combined for 112 receptions, 1,211 yards and five touchdowns this season.  

Buffalo has the number one ranked defense allowing 288.9 yards per game to their opponents.  They’re third in the NFL allowing 17.6 points per game; they have two shutouts this season. The Bills defense has allowed 10 passing touchdowns this season and 179.5 passing yards per game, second in the NFL.  They’re third in the league in interceptions with 21; Jordan Poyer leads the team with five interceptions from the safety position.

Buffalo Bills Depth Chart

QB: Josh Allen
RB1: Matt Breida
RB2: Devin Singletary
RB3: Taiwan Jones
WR1: Emmanuel Sanders
WR2: Cole Beasley
WR3: Stefon Diggs
TE1: Dawson Knox

Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills Daily Fantasy Picks

Wide Receiver Brandon Zylstra is an interesting player, who might get a few more opportunities to catch the ball due to D.J. Moore’s injury and Robbie Anderson’s inconsistent play.  Zylstra was targeted a season high five times last week vs. Atlanta.  The fourth-year pro has 16 catches on the season, averaging 14.6 yards per reception.  

Tight End Dawson Knox has 40 receptions for 489 yards; averaging 12.2 yards per catch this season.  The third-year pro has eight receiving touchdowns this season, which leads Buffalo, no other tight end in Bills history has more than six in a season per NFL.com.