NFL Picks: Green Bay to Cool Off Newton Ardour in Carolina Home Opener
Saturday, September 17, 2011
by Aengus Moorehead
Analysis:
Aaron Rodgers waited behind Brett Favre for three seasons before getting the chance to show he was a franchise quarterback. His counterpart this week, Cam Newton, looked the part in his first NFL game. Both Rodgers and Newton had big games in Week 1, and they'll go head-to-head Sunday when the Carolina Panthers host the defending 2011 Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.
Time & Venue:
- 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, September 18, 2011. Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Last Week's result:
- Green Bay Packers (-4.5) beat New Orleans Saints 42-34.
- Carolina Panthers (+7.5) loses to Arizona Cardinals 28-21.
Against the Spread:
- Green Bay covers
- Carolina loses but covers.
NFL Football Odds: Packers -10.5 O/U 46
Rodgers has won seven straight starts, including Green Bay's run through the playoffs as the NFC's No. 6 seed last season. He has at least three passing touchdowns in five of those seven games. Rodgers had three touchdown passes by the end of the first quarter in a season-opening 42-34 win over New Orleans. The defense had its share of trouble, though, giving up 477 yards to Drew Brees and the Saints. That could spell another big game for Newton.
Newton's debut exceeded everything the Panthers could have hoped for when they drafted him with the top overall pick in this year's draft. He passed for 422 yards — the most ever by a player making his NFL debut — and a pair of touchdowns in a 28-21 loss at the Arizona Cardinals. He also helped Steve Smith's resurgence after an injury-plagued 2010 season. Smith had eight catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
With 9,656 receiving yards, Packers WR Donald Driver is tied with Hall of Famer James Lofton for the most in franchise history.
Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams, who was held to 30 yards on 12 carries last week, scored four rushing touchdowns in Carolina's 35-31 win in Green Bay in 2008.
Packers rookie Randall Cobb tied an NFL record with a 108-yard kickoff return touchdown and caught a 32-yard touchdown pass last week. He became only the second rookie in NFL history with a touchdown catch and a kick return touchdown in his first game.
Green Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games.
Green Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Carolina.
Green Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Carolina
Carolina is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Green Bay
Carolina is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Green Bay
Carolina is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Green Bay
Carolina is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Green Bay
Newton has injected life into the Panthers' offense — and franchise — but Carolina isn't ready to keep pace with Rodgers and the Packers. For as many things as he did well against the Cardinals in week one, it will be a completely different undertaking for Newton in week two against a Green Bay defense loaded with Pro Bowl players, including three in the Packers’ secondary alone. With Rodgers moving the offense at a nearly perfect level, the Panthers simply don’t have the weapons on either side of the ball to keep up.
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NFL Football Pick: Take Packers.
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Category
Tags
2011 super bowl - aaron rodgers - bank of america stadium - brett favre - cam newton - carolina panthers - deangelo williams - donald driver - drew brees - green bay packers
