by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Nov 25, 2021
Game time: 1 p.m. ET; November 28, 2021
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Panthers -2
BetMGM: Panthers -1.5
Caesars: Panthers -2
Season record
Panthers: 5-6 (3rd place, NFC South)
Dolphins: 4-7 (3rd place, AFC East)
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Panthers - Dolphins preview and analysis
Last week
Panthers: lost 27-21 vs. Washington
Dolphins: won 24-17 at Jets
The Cam Newton experience hit a snag last week against the Washington Football Team.
The Carolina Panthers will try to get back on track Sunday when they visit the red-hot Miami Dolphins who have won three in a row.
Carolina dropped its first game with Newton, the quarterback who led the Panthers to the Super Bowl five years ago, 27-21 last week against Washington. The former league MVP had a very decent game throwing for 189 yards and two touchdowns while adding 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
As fate would have it, the Panthers' defense was what failed last week giving up three touchdown passes to Taylor Heinicke. Washington outgained Carolina 369-297 and had six more first downs while once again winning the time of possession battle (11-plus minutes more).
What did his coach think of being the only one who could generate offense?
“I don’t like putting anything on one guy. When you are the quarterback there is a lot of responsibility on you,” Matt Rhule said. “Cam did a lot of good things. He ran the ball and executed the offense and he’s learned a lot quickly. But all of these games are going to come down the last four minutes where we have to score a field goal and a touchdown. I put that on all of us, but at the end of the day as a quarterback we’ve got to get that done. I’m sure he would be the first to say that. We’ve got to win at the end of the game.”
The hope for Carolina is the reemergence of Christian McCaffrey will help the offense. The star running back had 119 all-purpose yards and a touchdown reception. In five of six games this year, McCaffrey has crossed the century mark in the total yardage.
The Panthers are 2-6 ATS in their last eight and have lost four straight at home overall.
“I am still going to enjoy this moment,” Newton said. “I think my life could be who knows where right now if the judge ruled (a different way). God has favor over my life and that’s the big picture. The realization of the things that you can control, I’m just enjoying the moment.”
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have every right to feel good while on this three-game winning streak and making a case to get back in the AFC playoff picture. It's been because of one name: Tua Tagovailoa.
Miami's franchise quarterback threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 24-17 win over the New York Jets in MetLife Stadium. Since starting 1-7, the Dolphins responded with allowing an average of 318.6 total yards per game after allowing 425.5 the previous four.
“I think we’re just having better execution and playing better,” Dolphins coach Flores said. “I think we practiced better, we prepared better, we played better. That’s the formula. We can get into other things if we want to, but that’s the formula that I know, and that’s what I’ve seen.”
The Dolphins have also covered in their last three after going 0-4-1 ATS in the previous five. The win against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday Night Football back on Nov. 11 saw Miami getting 8.5 points.
Prediction
The Dolphins and Panthers have only met three times since 2009 with Carolina winning the last two (1-1 ATS). My biggest concern with the Dolphins is sustaining this defensive pressure. Tagovailoa has been a godsend the past few weeks, but it's about consistency with the young quarterback; Carolina has given up 174.2 passing yards per game, but are giving up 114.5 on the ground. Miami needs better production from the running game it has not gotten. For that, I'll give the Panthers the win and the cover. Panthers by 7
Betting trends
Panthers are 2-9 ATS in last 11 following a loss of 6 points or less.
Panthers are 7-6 ATS in lats 13 following home loss but 3-10 straight up.
Dolphins are 9-1 ATS in last 10 off at least two unders.
Players to watch
Panthers: Wide receiver DJ Moore has recorded at least 50 receiving yards in four of his past five road games.
Dolphins: Tight end Mike Gesicki has at least 50 receiving yards in two of his last three games.
Statistical leaders
Panthers:
Passing: Cam Newton -- 197 yards, 3 TD
Rushing: Christian McCaffrey -- 407 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: DJ Moore -- 751 yards, 4 TD
Defense: Hasson Reddick -- 10.5 sacks
Dolphins:
Passing: Tua Tagovailoa -- 1,471 yards, 9 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Myles Gaskin -- 433 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Jaylen Waddle -- 622 yards, 3 TD
Defense: Emmanuel Ogbah -- 5 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
