The Green Bay Packers host the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field on Thursday night at 8:15 p.m. ET, live on Prime Video, in the opening game of NFL Week 8, according to Sports Illustrated, Covers and RG.org’s Week 8 previews.
Green Bay is favoured by 3.5 points, with a total of 47.5, after both teams suffered heavy defeats in Week 7: the Packers lost 20-17 at Detroit, while Carolina was run over 43-13 at home by Tampa Bay.
Packers’ problems
Green Bay is 4-3 and in last place in the NFC North despite a winning record, after a three-game winning streak was snapped by Detroit. Jordan Love has carried the offence with 1,958 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, according to RG.org’s preview, but the run game is the weak spot: Green Bay has just 419 rushing yards in seven games.
The Packers’ defence, though, has held four straight opponents to 20 points or fewer, and Green Bay’s ability to create turnovers — a league-leading nine interceptions — gives it a clear path to victory.
Panthers’ bounce-back history
Carolina is 3-3 and still first in the NFC South, but the Panthers’ Week 7 performance was, in Sports Illustrated’s words, an all-time awful showing at home. Bryce Young threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, while Tampa Bay rushed for 258 yards.
Yet Carolina has a remarkable bounce-back trend: the Panthers are 13-0 against the spread in their last 13 games following an outright loss, according to Covers. Last season, Carolina followed a 31-point home loss to Buffalo by winning outright at Lambeau Field as a 13.5-point underdog.
Injuries and matchups
Carolina’s task is harder without veteran right tackle Taylor Moton, placed on injured reserve on October 26 with a fibula fracture and ankle ligament damage. Protecting Young against Green Bay’s pass rush is the game’s central question — and the reason the Packers are favoured on a short week.
