Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers preview, prediction, betting odds, live stream info

Oct 12, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Carolina Panthers vs Green Bay Packers

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers travel to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy and the Green Bay Packers in an NFC showdown that could have playoff implications as the Panthers look to improve to 4-3-1 on the year after they tied the Cincinnati Bengals while the Packers look to remain atop the NFC North with a win to improve to 5-2.

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Date: Sunday, Oct. 19
Start time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Green Bay, WI
Stadium: Lambeau Field
TV info: Fox
Live stream: NFL Sunday Ticket
Radio: Panthers broadcast here. Packers broadcast here.
Ticket info: For Packers ticket info click here. For Panthers ticket info click here.

Keys to Victory

The Packers are looking for their fourth straight win after Rodgers led a last-minute comeback on the road against the Miami Dolphins last week when he threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns. Rodgers is second in the NFL with a 111.4 quarterback rating in large part because he had 15 touchdowns to a single interception to became the first player to throw 15 TDs with one or fewer interceptions in the first six games of a season and is 12 attempts short of breaking his longest streak without a pick at 181, which he set in 2010.

As great as Rodgers has been, Lacy and the Packers running game has not and ranks 24th in the league entering this contest. Lacy has one game with more than 100 yards this year and is averaging 40.2 yards per game in the other five games with a total of one touchdown. Green Bay would love to get Lacy on track this week against a Panthers run defense that ranks 27th in the league and giving up 140.2 yards per game.

Oct 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) rushes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals and the Panthers tie in overtime 37-37. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) rushes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals and the Panthers tie in overtime 37-37. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

Newton has his best game of the year for the Panthers last week when he led Carolina to the tie after leading the team on a 12-play, 54-yard drive in 2:11 to set up Graham Gano for the game-tying overtime.

They were unable to win in the extra frame, but the encouraging sign was seeing Newton run 17 times for 107 yards and a touchdown without showing any effects of his offseason ankle surgery.

The former No. 1 overall pick threw for 432 yards and a touchdown in his lone game against the Packers in the second game of his rookie season when he also threw three interceptions in the 30-23 loss.

To avoid a road loss, he’ll have to find rookie Kelvin Benjamin early and often, continue to run the ball as effectively as he did last week and get some production out of Jonathan Stewart who is expected to return to the lineup after missing the last three weeks.

Betting Odds

Point spread: GB -7
Moneyline: – 300
Over/Under: 49

Prediction

The Packers on fire right now with 107-51 the combined scored in their three-game winning streak and Rodgers is playing at such a high level that it will be tough for the Panthers defense who allows the 20th most passing yards per game at 252.3 and already allowed 12 passing touchdowns to slow him down in Lambeau.

Green Bay is averaging 36.5 points per game in their two home games — both wins — this season and the Panthers are 1-1-1 on the road this season, so give me Rodgers and the Packers in a game that sees Lacy approach the century mark against the 28th rush defense in the league.

Final Score: Panthers: 24, Packers: 31

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