SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: CAROLINA PANTHERS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

BY ADAM GREENE

Hey, if you’d rather focus in on No. 1 Alabama at No. 7 Florida, no one would blame you. Normally, the NFL would have this Saturday all to themselves, but thanks to COVID-19 postponements and schedule movements we have a full sabado of every type of football. And if you’re a betting person, you’re alright with all of it.

The NFL will close out the night with a Saturday Night Football matchup between the Carolina Panthers, who are playing for next year, and the Green Bay Packers, who are very much playing for this year.

CAROLINA PANTHERS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-9, O/U: 51.5)

Location: Lambeau Field. Green Bay, Wisc.

Kickoff: Dec. 19, 8:15 p.m. EST

Broadcast: NFL Network

THE HISTORY

The first ever meeting between these two teams was in the playoffs. The Panthers, in just their second year in existence, made it all the way to the NFC Championship game in the 1996-97 season. Their expansion franchise counterpart, the Jacksonville Jaguars, did the exact same thing, forever altering the requirements for team building and head coach assessment in the modern free agency era. Incidentally, both the Jags and Panthers lost. The Panthers fell to the Brett Favre – Mike Holmgren Packers 30-13. The Pack would go on to win the Super Bowl, their third, in a 35-21 over the New England Patriots.

In spite of that little piece of history, the two franchises have only met 16 times, with Green Bay holding a 10-6 advantage in the all time series. They squared up last year on Nov. 10, 2019 with Green Bay winning 24-16. Aaron Rodgers threw for 233 yards, no TDs and no picks in the win. Aaron Jones rushed for 93 yards and a TD. Davante Adams caught seven passes for 118 yards.

Kyle Allen, now with the Washington Football Team, threw for 307 yards for Carolina. Christian McCaffrey, who will probably not play, rushed for 108 yards and a TD. DJ Moore caught nine passes for 120 yards. Greg Olsen, now with the Seahawks, had eight catches for 98 yards.

CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-9)

The Panthers have dropped two straight and have to be ready to hit the “sim to free agency” on Madden more than any other team other than the Denver Broncos, who they just so happened to play last week. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw for 283 yards in the 32-27 loss and ran for a touchdown. Robbie Anderson caught eight passes for 84 yards. Mike Davis scored two TDs.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-3)

Green Bay has won three straight games and currently holds home field advantage and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They can’t blow it against an inferior Panthers team. Last week the Packers beat the Detroit Lions 31-24. Aaron Rodgers threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Devante Adams caught seven for 115 yards and a score.

THE PICK

With just three games to go, the Pack is simply playing for too much to stumble here. Carolina will be in the mix next year with a solid draft, free agency period and healthy Christian McCaffrey, but that’s a full summer and fall away. Packers 31, Panthers 17

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