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Panthers at Falcons: Preview, prediction, odds and pick

By John Buhler

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton dives for a first down on fourth and one against the Atlanta Falcons during third quarter action on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 20-17. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton dives for a first down on fourth and one against the Atlanta Falcons during third quarter action on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 20-17. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Falcons will host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Week 17. Here is a game preview, the betting odds and a final score prediction.

It’s rivalry week in the NFL. Yes, we have made it to the final week of the 2017 NFL regular season. Week 17 is about to be off the chain. No game will have bigger playoff implications on Sunday than the NFC South rivalry game between the Carolina Panthers (11-4) and the Atlanta Falcons (9-6).

Kickoff from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be at 4:25 p.m. ET on Dec. 31. FOX will have the late afternoon telecast with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth to call the featured late-window game for that broadcasting network.

Carolina has clinched at playoff berth in the NFC at 11-4. The Panthers can win the NFC South for the fourth time in five years should the New Orleans Saints fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in the afternoon. Should Carolina stumble on the road in Atlanta, Carolina will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC and play on the road wild card weekend.

Atlanta is one of two teams in the NFC fighting for that last playoff spot. Should Atlanta win to improve to 10-6, the Falcons will be the No. 6 seed and have a shot at repeating as NFC champions. If Atlanta loses at home to Carolina, they need to hope the Seattle Seahawks fall at home to the Arizona Cardinals to avoid missing the NFC playoffs entirely.

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Atlanta -4
Moneylines: Atlanta -194, Carolina +175
Over/Under: 45.5

According to OddsShark, the Falcons will be laying four points at home to the visiting Panthers. The associated moneylines for this game are Atlanta -194 and Carolina +175. This game’s over/under comes in at a combined 45.5 points.

Carolina won the earlier game between these two in Charlotte. This was win the Panthers started to pick up steam as a legitimate contender in the NFC. Cam Newton leaned on the running game and saw his defense continue to play well. Atlanta saw Julio Jones drop a certain wide-open touchdown in the end zone.

With this game being played indoors, let’s side with the slight over in this one. This is the best game on the Week 17 slate and it will certainly live up to its billing. Atlanta will come out and feed off the crowds energy. The Falcons will take a 17-10 lead into halftime, feeling a bit overconfident about winning and getting into the NFC playoffs.

Carolina will then proceed to rattle off 13 unanswered points in the second half. After a pair of Graham Gano field goals to bring it within one at 17-16, Cam Newton will find pay dirt inside of three minutes left in the ball game on a goal-line scamper.

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense will need a score of their own to keep the Falcons’ playoff dreams alive. Knowing that Carolina has nothing to play for after seeing the Saints beat the Buccaneers earlier in the afternoon, Ryan will orchestrate the best drive of his season.

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It will be reminiscent to the one that beat the Green Bay Packers at home by a point in the 2016 NFL season. Ryan will connect with wide receiver Mohamed Sanu on a third-and-goal game-tying touchdown inside of 15 seconds. A made Matt Bryant field goal lifts Atlanta to a 24-23 victory and into the playoffs. The point total goes over, but the Panthers cover the four-point spread.

Pick: Falcons 24, Panthers 23

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