New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Matchup Preview (11/7/21): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Matchup Preview (11/7/21)

With all the weirdness of 2020, the New England Patriots having a losing season might have been the weirdest. The team was adjusting to a mixture of adjusting to life after Tom Brady and dealing with a number of players opting out of the season due to COVID-19. Now, the Pats seem to be finally hitting their stride, coming off a major 27-24 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. The team is currently 4-4 and primed to battle for a playoff position. Rookie QB Mac Jones is starting to settle into the speed of the NFL, and he’s learning how to win like he did back at Alabama.

The Carolina Panthers are also 4-4, but it’s been a bit of a strange journey so far. The Panthers started off 3-0 and looked like a team ready to compete all season long. However, an 0-4 slump in the middle had many questioning just how talented Carolina really is this year. A much-needed win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday brought the team back to .500, but there’s still plenty of work to do. Here’s what you should expect when the Patriots travel to Carolina to face off against the Panthers. 

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Odds

Personally, I think this game will be pretty one-sided. The Pats are hitting their stride right now on a two-game winning streak, and close losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers show that they can compete with the big boys. The Panthers, on the other hand, feel like a house of cards that’s being held together by a strong defense. Even if QB Sam Darnold and Christian McCaffrey play on Sunday, they’re going to have a tough time competing with the Pats while still banged up.

With two defenses that are capable of smothering the opposition, I’m not seeing a lot of points here. This might be a short game with plenty of runs, but that’s not a problem if you’re backing the Pats. Carolina’s defense will give Mac Jones some trouble, but the experienced coaching staff will make the right adjustments to win this one. Meanwhile, a Carolina offense in need of a bye week will struggle all throughout Sunday. Lay the points with the Patriots as Carolina continues to look for answers.

My predictions: Patriots win 17-10, Patriots -3.5, under 41 points

TV Schedule

Date: Sunday, November 7th
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
TV Coverage: CBS

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Live Stream

Where can you watch New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers online? You can stream this game, and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Free Online Now.

Injuries

New England Patriots: CB Shaun Wade (concussion) Q, LB Brandon King (thigh) Q, LB Harvey Langi (knee) IR
Carolina Panthers: WR Terrace Marshall Jr. (concussion) Q, CB C.J. Henderson (shoulder) Q, QB Sam Darnold (concussion) Q, DE Darryl Johnson (knee) IR, DT Daviyon Nixon (knee) IR, G John Miller (ankle) IR

New England Patriots Analysis

Even when the Patriots were 2-4, you had a feeling that they were going to find a way to claw back into the playoff race. After Sunday’s 27-24 win against the Los Angeles Chargers, it’s looking like this team can hang with the competition. Head coach Bill Belichick is 248-96 with the New England Patriots, and you can never count him and the Pats out of a game. 

I’m liking the progression of rookie QB Mac Jone so far. The team’s choice to go with the rookie from Week 1 was a difficult one, but it looks like it’s paying off. So far, Jones has thrown nine TDs and six picks, and he’s averaging 256.5 yards per game through the air. He might not be airing it out like Brady, but Jones is doing enough to win games. Plus, the improving showings by RB Damien Harris have been crucial, with the back averaging 4.4 yards per carry and finding the end zone five times. 

The New England defense hasn’t been flashy this year, but they’re keeping opponents off the board. The team is currently ranked eighth in the league in scoring defense, allowing 20.5 points per game. Opposing quarterbacks need to be afraid of linebacker Matthew Judon. So far this year, Judon has 8 total sacks to lead the team. This pressure’s led to some turnovers as well, as the Pats have picked off opponents 10 times.

New England Patriots Depth Chart

QB: Mac Jones
RB1: Damien Harris
RB2: Brandon Bolden
WR1: Nelson Agholor
WR2: Jakobi Meyers
WR3: Kendrick Bourne
TE1: Hunter Henry

Carolina Panthers Analysis

The Carolina Panthers could definitely use a win this week. The team needs the same momentum they had during their first three games, and one player might make all the difference. The absence of Christian McCaffrey has cost the team, as the Panthers have been 1-4 without their star running back in the lineup. Carolina is hopeful he’ll play this week, but there’s still been no official word.

And speaking of the injury bug, it’s bitten QB Sam Darnold as well. Darnold left Sunday’s win against the Falcons with a concussion, and he’s currently questionable to come back. The former Jets quarterback has been regressing in recent weeks, totaling just two touchdowns to five interceptions over the past month. Still, starting backup QB P.J. Walker in his place could prove to be disastrous. The former XFL passer looked overwhelmed last season, tossing a single touchdown with five interceptions.

Despite the struggles on offense, the Carolina defense it still performing. Carolina is fielding the second-ranked overall defense, only allowing 295.6 yards per game. They rank in the top five for plenty of different categories, such as passing defense, sacks, and points per game. LB Hasson Reddick and DE Brian Burns are dangerous in the pass rush, combining for 12 sacks on the season so far. If the Panthers heal up and make some adjustments on defense, they could be dangerous once more.

Carolina Panthers Depth Chart

QB: Sam Darnold
RB1: Chuba Hubbard
RB2: Royce Freeman
WR1: Robby Anderson
WR2: D.J. Moore
WR3: Keith Kirkwood
TE1: Tommy Tremble

New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers Daily Fantasy Picks

I was big on Pats RB Damien Harris heading into the season, and he’s been performing the past few weeks. Over his last few games, Harris is averaging 95.6 yards with four trips to end zone. If the Pats get him going, he could have a career day in Carolina. The Panthers might have a top-tier passing defense, but they’re still allowing 114.5 yards per game on the ground. Damien Harris is only listed at $6,000 on DraftKings and has an opportunity for some breakout runs this week.