Baker Mayfield almost led the Carolina Panthers to an impressive comeback victory in Week 1, only for the Cleveland Browns to nail a game-winning field goal. Daniel Jones pretty much did the same thing, but the Tennessee Titans missed their attempt at a game-winner. But now the Giants are 1-0, and the Panthers are 0-1. With the sportsbooks predicting the Giants to beat the Panthers in New York, what betting odds and player prop markets offer the most value for this Week 2 matchup?
A few threads worth following from last week could point to value. First, Giants running back Saquon Barkley shredded the Titans for 164 yards on 9.1 yards per carry — and he caught six passes for 30 yards as well. Second, Panthers wide receiver Robbie Anderson led the team in targets (8), receptions (5) and receiving yards (102). Lastly, Giants quarterback Daniel Jones took five sacks but often scrambled out of the pocket, racking up 25 yards rushing on six carries. Should the books undervalue those players heading into Week 2, there might just be value on the player prop markets.
Panthers vs. Giants Week 2 NFL Betting Picks & Predictions
Panthers vs. Giants Betting Odds
Baker Cooked a Comeback, Defense Couldn't Hold
The Panthers trailed by a 13-point margin halfway through the third quarter. Baker Mayfield then led the Panthers on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that he capped off with a rushing touchdown. He threw a long touchdown pass to Robbie Anderson on the next drive. Afterward, he set up a go-ahead field goal with a pair of chunk plays to D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey. Unfortunately, the Carolina defense then allowed Cleveland to drive just close enough for rookie kicker Cade York to drill a 58-yard, game-winning field goal.
Although Mayfield played well in the clutch, he struggled mightily throughout Sunday's contest. He completed 59% of his passes for 235 yards and one score. He threw one pick, took four sacks and fumbled four times. He recorded Carolina's offensive line allowed those four sacks, four hurries and one quarterback hit on just five blitzes. Mayfield benefited from playing behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines in Cleveland, and he could struggle to adapt to life behind one of the NFL's worst. The Panthers' unit ranked 24th heading into this season and is especially vulnerable at tackle.
Carolina's defense struggled. Running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt pretty much got what they wanted all game, and the Panthers recorded just four tackles for loss despite facing 39 rushing attempts. Chubb tore off a 25-yard run, and Hunt tore off a 24-yard run. They held Jacoby Brissett to only 147 yards passing and pressured him on 23.7% of his dropbacks, but the journeyman quarterback still did enough to give Cleveland the victory.
Jones and Daboll Pulled Off a Wild Upset
After Daniel Jones threw a touchdown to fullback Chris Myarick with the Giants down seven and a minute left, head coach Brian Daboll opted to go for the two-point conversion. Jones completed a pass to Saquon Barkley and the Giants got the go-ahead score, but the narrative around this game would be quite different if the Titans hadn't then missed the game-winning field goal. New York's defense allowed Ryan Tannehill to drive his Titans 48 yards downfield in under a minute. A fifth-round rookie wideout, Kyle Phillips, gashed New York for 32 of those yards from the slot.
On balance, Jones and New York's skill-position players looked impressive despite poor offensive line play. Jones faced pressure on 60.7% of his dropbacks. He took five sacks, was hurried eight times and hit four times. That didn't deter him from making aggressive throws downfield -- Jones ranked third among starting quarterbacks in air yards per attempt. Running back Saquon Barkley rumbled for 164 yards and 9.1 yards per carry -- including a 68-yard gain -- despite poor run blocking from his tackles.
New York's defense generated pressure and contained Derrick Henry. The star running back averaged only 3.9 yards per carry and broke only two tackles. That performance is made all the more impressive by the fact that New York ranked 32nd in rush defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA) last year. And although the Giants recorded just one sack, the unit pressured Tannehill on 31.4% of his dropbacks. Still, slot cornerback Darnay Holmes surrendered far too much production to a rookie wideout, and the Giants could be vulnerable to Panthers slot receiver Shi Smith.
Panthers vs. Giants Prediction
The Carolina Panthers struggled mightily in the trenches last Sunday. Chubb and Hunt had their way with the defensive front and routinely broke off big plays. That bodes quite poorly for Carolina's Week 2 matchup against Saquon Barkley. However, New York's offensive line wasn't perfect, and rookie tackle Evan Neal struggled as a run blocker.
The player prop markets have Saquon Barkley's rushing yards total set between 75.5 and 76.5. With New York favored and Barkley going for more than twice that last Sunday, the Over feels like a solid value play. That said, bettors can buy Barkley to record a rush of more than 16.5 yards for a better price. Barkley broke off a 68-yard run against the Titans last week. The former first-round pick has often produced splash plays when healthy, and targeting him to do so against a Carolina defense that allowed both Chubb and Hunt to make big plays feels sharp.
Panthers vs. Giants Prediction: Saquon Barkley Longest Rush Over 16.5 Yards (-110 at BetMGM)
