Four days after losing in Detroit, the Green Bay Packers are back home and ready to host the Carolina Panthers on "Thursday Night Football" from Lambeau Field. Can Matt LaFleur's team shake off a disappointing finish against the Lions and get back into the win column in a primetime showdown between NFC playoff hopefuls?
Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 8 showdown with the Panthers will go down:
Zach Kruse: Packers 23, Panthers 18 (4-3)
Good luck predicting these Thursday night games. One thing is certain: the Packers need to win this football game. The Packers aren't close to full strength, but the Panthers are decimated by injury, coming off a 30-point loss and traveling on a short week. This has to be a game where the Packers better control the line of scrimmage,
play a cleaner brand of football for 60 minutes and finish out a win. The bigger picture is important because Thursday night is a home game against a conference opponent who figures to be in the playoff race come December, and the Packers already have three conference losses, including a home loss to an NFC South opponent. The guess here is Thursday night is tight throughout, and some sloppy moments give both teams a chance to win in the fourth quarter, but the Packers pass-rush makes a big play or two late to preserve the win. Taking advantage of an injury-riddled Panthers offensive line will be the winning factor for the Packers.
Brandon Carwile: Packers 23, Panthers 17 (4-3)
The Panthers gave up 258 rushing yards in last week’s 30-point loss to the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, the Packers haven’t rushed for 100 yards as a team in a game since Week 18 of last season. If there is a favorable matchup to break the slump, this is it. Josh Jacobs should see an uptick in carries, and injuries along the offensive line may finally open the door for former Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler to make his Packers debut. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young is having arguably his best season as a pro but will have to be careful against a Green Bay defense that has forced 11 turnovers in the last four games. I think they'll get a crucial takeaway this week to swing things in their favor. Give me the Packers in a close one.
Mark Oldacres: Packers 20, Panthers 17 (4-3)
Green Bay must find a different way to move the ball on Thursday against a Carolina defense which does not allow the kind of explosive passes Jordan Love is always hunting. Hopefully he and Matt LaFleur learned their lesson from the frustrating loss to the Panthers a year ago and can do enough to edge out Bryce Young on the other side. Carolina has done damage against leaky defenses, but against the best two units they have faced in terms of EPA per play, the Browns and Buccaneers, they managed only 18 and 13 points respectively.
Brennen Rupp: Packers 20, Panthers 10 (4-3)
Green Bay’s defense played well enough for the Packers to pull off the road victory against the Detroit Lions a few short days ago. Unfortunately all their work was undone by the special teams and an offense unable to finish drives. They should be able to slow down the Panthers offense, while the offense will do just enough to get the Packers to 5-3.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers Wire staff predictions: Week 8 vs. Panthers
