NFL ODDS WEEK 8: COMMANDERS WILL COVER, EARLY BEST BETS

I’m going to fade a miserably bad Panthers team as they face a feisty Falcons team that ran into a buzzsaw Bengals team Sunday.

The Panthers — underdogs by almost two touchdowns —

embarrassed Tampa Bay and won 21-3 in a game Sunday that didn’t even feel that close.

The Panthers started their third quarterback of the season and were without Christian McCaffrey,

who is now a 49er. It was a feel-good story. Feel-good stories only last a week in the NFL and do not happen often on the road.

Now, let's look at Atlanta. The Falcons defense was without many starters in the back end of their

 secondary against Cincinnati, and the Bengals took full advantage. Joe Burrow threw for more than 400 yards

Well, the Panthers do not have that passing attack, and even if the Falcons are without some secondary

pieces again this week, they should not be worried about allowing as many yards and points.

Carolina's interior offensive line is going to struggle to block Grady Jarrett.

I expect the Falcons run game to get back on track at home inside their dome.

The Panthers rushing defense looked stout against the Bucs because every rushing defense looks like the

 1985 Bears against Tampa Bay. The Falcons rushing attack is so diverse,

and when it’s rolling, it allows quarterback Marcus Mariota to hit play-action passes with success.

I’m going to fade a miserably bad Panthers team as they face a feisty Falcons team that ran into a buzzsaw Bengals team Sunday.

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