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Carrie Stroup here with your Panthers vs. Jets line for Sunday’s NFL Preseason action. All betting courtesy of Sportsbook.com.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: New York -3 & 40.5
Opening Line & Total: Jets -3 (even) & 39
After getting blown out in the first two weeks of the season, the Jets look for a major improvement Sunday night when the Panthers come to town.
New York has scored a total of nine points with 321 yards of offense (3.0 yards per play) in the first two games combined, losing 17-6 to the Bengals and 26-3 to the Giants last week. Carolina’s offense stalled in preseason Week 1 against the Texans, gaining a total of 137 yards in a 26-13 loss. However, the Panthers offense was clicking in a 23-17 win over Miami last week, gaining 390 yards with a nice balance of pass (244 yards) and rush (146 yards). Both teams are expected to play their starting units for the entire first half and possibly even into the third quarter on Sunday. This is a definite advantage for Carolina, which has many more weapons than the Jets, who may still be without top WRs Santonio Holmes (questionable, with rib injury), Chaz Schilens (ankle) and Jeremy Kerley (hamstring). Even if Holmes does play, it certainly won’t be for an entire half.
Newton led his team to 13 points in the opening quarter against the Dolphins, scoring on all three of his drives with a passing line of 8-for-11, 119 yards and 1 TD. That touchdown reception went to RB DeAngelo Williams, who finished with 52 total yards on just four carries and two receptions. Backup QB Derek Anderson was a mediocre 7-of-15 for 107 yards, while third-stringer Jimmy Clausen was a poor 4-of-8 for 29 yards (3.6 YPA), and took two sacks. This trio of quarterbacks won’t have the services of either top WR Steve Smith (foot infection) or No. 3 wideout David Gettis (ACL recovery), but considering 10 Panthers tallied a reception of 12+ yards against Miami, there are still plenty of Carolina receivers to choose from. The Panthers have met the Jets only once in the preseason, losing a 9-3 snoozer at home in 2010 when the teams combined for 109 passing yards (16 by New York).
In addition to the depleted receiving corps, New York will also be without two key defenders in NT Sione Pouha (back) and S Eric Smith (knee sprain). But the lack of offense is the most troubling sign to this team. The Jets converted just 1-of-13 third-down plays and took seven sacks in the loss to the Giants last week. Although starting QB Mark Sanchez connected on 9-of-11 pass attempts, he gained just 57 yards on those throws and also tossed an interception returned for a touchdown. Backup Tim Tebow was even worse, completing just 5-of-14 throws for 69 yards. Although New York was supposed to feature him in Wildcat formations last week, Tebow had just two carries for five yards. This Jets duo, which played the entire game last week, has combined stats of 22-for-39, 174 yards (4.5 YPA), 0 TD and 2 INT. Part of the struggle has been because of RT Wayne Hunter, who was responsible for 2½ sacks against the Giants. He has been demoted to the second team in favor of Austin Howard, an undrafted player who didn’t escape the Ravens practice squad last year. It would also help the quarterbacks if somebody stepped up and ran the football. The Jets gained a mere 65 yards on 24 carries (2.7 YPC) against the Giants.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
