The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers have a surprisingly balanced history, and as you watch Panthers vs Packers online free today or live on Fox Sports their Week 7 game could go in either direction. Both teams are coming off last-minute wins last week, and both quarterbacks are playing at a high level. But Packers QB Aaron Rodgers may have the edge today at Lambeau Field.
Though he’s been sacked 15 times this season, Rodgers is playing at an MVP pace, completing 122 of 189 passes for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. Rodgers has guided the 4-2 Packers to three wins in a row. In last week’s 27-24 win over the Dolphins, Rodgers had 264 and three touchdowns, none bigger than his four-yard TD to Andrew Quarless with three seconds left.
Carolina has a poor pass defense, giving Rodgers an opportunity for a big game today at home. The bigger issue, though, is how Green Bay’s defense responds to Panthers QB Cam Newton and the read-option.
Linebacker Clay Matthews in particular has struggled against read-option QBs this year. Today Matthews and the Packers face perhaps the best read-option QB in Cam Newton. Last week the Packers allowed Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill a 40-yard burst before bringing him down, and he’s not particularly mobile. By comparison, Newton last week carried the ball 17 times for 107 yard and a touchdown in addition to 284 yards passing.
Newton isn’t the only ground threat in today’s Packers Panthers game, though the other is playing for Green Bay. Running back Eddie Lacy has rushed for 306 yards but is capable of big games like two weeks ago against the Vikings. Like Rodgers, Lacy could capitalize on a Panthers defense that’s allowed opponents to score 37 points or more in three of their past four games and is giving up 140.2 rushing yards per game.
And that’s why the edge today goes to the Green Bay Packers. Here’s some key information as you prepare to watch Panthers vs Packers online free live streaming for Week 7.
- Kickoff for Today’s Panthers vs Packers game: 1:00 EST / 10:00 PST
- Stadium: Lambeau Field (the Green Bay Packers are the home team)
- Who’s favored / point spread: the Green Bay Packers are a 6.5-point favorite
- Live stream the Panthers / Packers game on FOX Sports here
- Watch live free online on the DirecTV website here (requires an NFL Sunday Ticket subscription with MAX package)