The Carolina Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts are both coming off bad losses and would like to recover right away just to add a positive to their letdown campaigns. The two are not going to make it to the playoffs, so if anything, a win in Week 16 will be a consolation for their respective fanbases. Read on for more about this game below.
The Panthers seem done with Kyle Allen — at least for this season. Allen will now take a backup role to rookie Will Grier, who’s been named as the team’s starter for their Week 16 matchup against the Colts. Allen was a bundle of mess in the Panthers’ 30-24 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, as he completed just 25 of 41 passes for a touchdown against three interceptions. Running back Christian McCaffrey saved the Panthers from further humiliation by scoring two rushing touchdowns. Grier played five years in the FBS, donning Florida Gators for two years before transferring to the Big 12 to play for the West Virginia Mountaineers. In his last year with the Mountaineers, Grier passed for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Grier can have Greg Olsen downfield after the veteran tight end cleared the concussion protocol. Olsen didn’t see action in Week 15.
The Panthers, who are tied for first in the NFL with 49.0 sacks, have seen the total go over in their last four games.
Betting on the Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
The Colts got hit in the mouth by the New Orleans Saints last Monday in a n embarrassing 34-7 road loss to Drew Brees and company. Brees treated the Colts’ defense as his personal punching bag, as he went 29 for 30 for 307 passing yards and four touchdowns without an interception. But at least the Colts will not be facing a future Hall of Famer quarterback this coming Sunday and instead will deal with a first-year signal-caller who can be blinded by the bright lights of the NFL in his pro debut. Running back Marlon Mack, meanwhile, can rebound from a poor outing against the Saints in which he ran for only 19 yards on 11 carries. The Panthers have a faulty run defense that is third-worst in the league. The Panthers are allowing 140.2 rushing yards per contest, so Mack and company can expect being fed a lot by the Colts in the backfield.
The over is 2-0 in the Colts’ last two games at home.
