Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Predictions, Odds, Picks

Dec. 12, 2021
Jonathan Willis
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Week 14 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET

NFC South rivals hit the gridiron on Sunday afternoon as the Carolina Panthers host the Atlanta Falcons. Action is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and will air on FOX from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Score Prediction

Falcons 20, Panthers 17

Best Bets

Under 42.5 at South Point

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Predictions

The playoff chances of either the Atlanta Falcons or Carolina Panthers will take a serious hit this weekend. Both teams come into their showdown this Sunday at 5-7, and they are both one game behind Washington and San Francisco for the final playoff spots in the NFC. However, there are 12 teams that are 5-7 or better in the conference, and a loss here would likely be too much to make up for either the Falcons or Panthers.

The first meeting between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers showed that neither offense was very effective at moving the ball. Atlanta averaged just 4.3 yards per play and Carolina was only able to muster 4.6 yards per play. This game should be a low-scoring affair too, making the under and the underdog the best bets.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Odds

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Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Resources

  • Matchup: NFC South
  • Date: Sunday, December 12, 2021
  • Venue: Bank of America Stadium
  • Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
  • TV-Time: FOX - 1:00 p.m. ET

Week 14 NFL Picks & Predictions

Games Scheduled for 4:05 p.m. through 8:20 p.m. ET

Atlanta Falcons Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 5-7
  • ATS: 5-7
  • O/U: 5-7
  • ATS - Away: 4-2

Kyle Pitts has lived up to the hype. The highly drafted tight end out of Florida is Atlanta’s leading receiver with 49 receptions for 709 yards and a touchdown in 2021. That has helped this offense have a little bit of a bite, but the loss of Julio Jones in the offseason and Calvin Ridley during the season has been a lot to overcome for Matt Ryan.

Those factors have led to Ryan posting the worst numbers of his career. His 47.9 QBR is almost 12 points lower than his previous nadir, and he is averaging just 6.9 YPA. In his last four games, Ryan has thrown just one touchdown pass compared to five interceptions.

Cordarrelle Patterson is the only other skill position player to worry about on this team. Patterson is the leading rusher on the Falcons and is averaging 4.6 YPC, and he is the second-leading receiver behind Pitts by averaging 11.8 YPR.

Carolina ranks second in total defense. The Panthers are allowing just 290.9 YPG, and their pass defense is elite. Haason Reddick and Brian Burns have been elite pass rushers too with Reddick posting 10.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss and Burns collecting eight sacks and 12 tackles for loss.

Carolina Panthers Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 5-7
  • ATS: 5-7
  • O/U: 5-7
  • ATS - Home: 2-4

There hasn’t been good quarterback play in Carolina this season. Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker, and Cam Newton have all struggled to move the chains. That has led to the Panthers ranking in the bottom four in passing offense in 2021, as they are averaging just 5.8 YPA and 197.4 YPG through the air.

Newton will make another start this week with Darnold on injured reserve, and we will see if he has made improvements during Carolina’s bye week. He has thrown for just 281 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his previous two starts for the Panthers this season.

With Christian McCaffrey out for the season, the only real threat on this offense is D.J. Moore. Moore is closing in on 1,000 receiving yards in 2021. Robby Anderson has been virtually nonexistent, while Chuba Hubbard has really struggled to fill McCaffrey’s shoes as a rookie too.

Atlanta ranks 31st in scoring defense (27.7 PPG) and 24th in total defense (367.1 YPG). The Falcons rank 30th in third down defense, only getting off the field on third down 51.7% of the time. They have only recorded 15 sacks too as the pass rush has been virtually nonexistent.


Atlanta has covered the spread in four of its last six road games. (AP)

Inside the Stats - Atlanta Falcons

  • Record: 5-7
  • Division Standing: 2nd - NFC South
  • Points Scored: 216
  • Points Allowed: 332
  • PS/G: 18 (27th)
  • PA/G: 27.7 (31st)
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Inside the Stats - Carolina Panthers

  • Record: 5-7
  • Division Standing: 2nd - NFC South
  • Points Scored: 236
  • Points Allowed: 253
  • PS/G: 19.7 (24th)
  • PA/G: 21.1 (7th)

Key Players to Watch

  • ATL: Matt Ryan - QB (286/420, 2,914 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT)
  • ATL: Cordarrelle Patterson - RB (106 carries, 1,007 total yards, 9 Total TDs)
  • CAR: Chuba Hubbard - RB (122 carries, 427 yards, 3 TD)
  • CAR: D.J. Moore - WR (66 catches, 854 yards, 4 TD)

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Conclusion

The under is the best bet in this game given the state of these offenses. Carolina has a much better defense, but the lack of a quality quarterback makes Atlanta the better bet for a side.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers Betting Trends

  • Carolina has failed to cover the spread in seven of its last eight games when facing the NFC as the favorite.
  • Atlanta has covered the spread in four of its last six road games.
  • Carolina has lost four straight home games.
  • The point total has gone UNDER in five of the last six meetings.
  • The road team has won four of the last five meetings.

Where to place a bet this NFL Season?

  • Use our exclusive BetMGM Bonus Code VIBONUS1500 to unlock BetMGM’s welcome offer for new sportsbook users!
  • Compare the latest NFL Odds from the best sportsbooks before placing a bet on this week's games.
  • Check out the North Carolina Sportsbooks just before they launch legal online sports betting.