Two Division Leaders Face Off in NFL Thursday Night Football

Thursday Night Football kicks off Week 6 of the 2017 NFL regular season when the Philadelphia Eagles visit the Carolina Panthers in an NFC showdown. The current line has Carolina favored by 3.5 points with the over/under point total on 46.

Entering this game, Philadelphia on the season is 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread. On the road, the Eagles are 2-1 SU and ATS. Carolina on the season is 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS. At home, the Panthers are 1-1 SU and 0-2 ATS.

Both teams come into this game riding winnings streak in what should be a competitive Thursday night in the NFL. Philadelphia dominated Arizona last week in a 34-7 victory, while Carolina beat Detroit 27-24 on the road.

Philadelphia is riding a three-game winning streak, winning the first two in the streak by margins of just 3 points and 2 points before routing the Cardinals by 27 points. Quarterback Carson Wentz tossed three first quarter touchdowns including a bomb of 59 yards to Torrey Smith against Arizona.

Wentz finished the game with 304 yards passing, four touchdowns passes and 1 interception. LeGarrette Blount leads the Eagles rushing attack with 344 yards on the season, even though he has played in just 4 of 5 games.

The Panthers have won two straight entering this game. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton started his season slow during the team’s first three games. However, for the past two games, Newton looks like he did in 2015 as he threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns in Week 4 versus New England and followed that up in Week 5 against a tougher defense by throwing for 355 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Lions.

Newton has strong targets in wide receivers Devin Fuchess and Kelvin Benjamin, while rookie running back Christian McCaffrey scored his first receiving touchdown of his career and is becoming more and more involved in the offense. McCaffrey only has 96 yards rushing, but has 237 yards receiving.

Both teams are 4-1 and lead their respective divisions but the Panthers have played the tougher schedule thus far and have a better overall defense than do the Eagles.

Philadelphia is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games on the road.

Carolina is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games played at home.

Prediction: Both teams are 4-1 which means this game should be close. The Panthers are coming of a big win, but Carson Wentz could pick apart their secondary. Lean here with the Eagles.