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YTD 19-11
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS -7
Green Bay (0-3) at Carolina (1-2) @ 9:00 PM EST.
Do you dare count out Brett Favre?
The Green Bay Packers quarterback has presided over a miserable 0-3 start to 2005, an opening that has caused many to lament the downfall of one of the most prominent NFL franchises of the past decade. But the future Hall-of- Famer, who will lead his club into battle against Carolina Monday night, has burned many that predicted his imminent demise during a storied 15-year- career. Favre will be in search of that magic once again when he goes up against the Panthers, whom several pundits predicted in the preseason would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XL.
Carolina was also disappointing during September, falling to 1-2 on the basis of upset losses at the hands of the Saints (23-20) and Dolphins (27-24). Last Sunday's loss to Miami came one week after the team had looked impressive in downing the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots (27-17) at home.
The Panthers will be seeking to pile on the misery of a Green Bay club that is 0-3 for the first time since the 1988 campaign, when the Pack opened 0-5 en route to a 4-12 finish. Favre was a sophomore at Southern Miss when the Packers last succumbed to such losing depths.
SERIES HISTORY
The Packers have won five of the seven all-time regular season meetings with the Panthers, including each of the last three. Green Bay prevailed by a 24-14 count on the road in the most recent matchup, which occurred in a Monday night game during Week 1 of the 2004 campaign. The Panthers' last win in the series was a 31-14 triumph in Charlotte during the 2000 season.
The Packers won the only postseason meeting between the two teams all-time, a 30-13 affair in the 1996 NFC Championship Game.
Carolina head coach John Fox is 0-2 against Green Bay in his career. The Packers' Mike Sherman is 3-1 against the Panthers during his tenure in Green Bay, and is 2-0 head-to-head versus Fox.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Underestimating Favre is never a good idea, but not thinking much of the rest of his team is probably necessary. The Packers have far too many weaknesses to rally and be a division-winner this season, but that doesn't mean they won't win a handful of games they're predicted to lose. Favre is generally golden in big games, and should be able to move the offense down the field at a regular clip this week. But Green Bay will ultimately be undone by its defense, which won't figure out how to stop Steve Smith or Stephen Davis consistently enough to secure the victory.
Carolina by DD
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS -7
Green Bay (0-3) at Carolina (1-2) @ 9:00 PM EST.
Do you dare count out Brett Favre?
The Green Bay Packers quarterback has presided over a miserable 0-3 start to 2005, an opening that has caused many to lament the downfall of one of the most prominent NFL franchises of the past decade. But the future Hall-of- Famer, who will lead his club into battle against Carolina Monday night, has burned many that predicted his imminent demise during a storied 15-year- career. Favre will be in search of that magic once again when he goes up against the Panthers, whom several pundits predicted in the preseason would represent the NFC in Super Bowl XL.
Carolina was also disappointing during September, falling to 1-2 on the basis of upset losses at the hands of the Saints (23-20) and Dolphins (27-24). Last Sunday's loss to Miami came one week after the team had looked impressive in downing the defending Super Bowl Champion Patriots (27-17) at home.
The Panthers will be seeking to pile on the misery of a Green Bay club that is 0-3 for the first time since the 1988 campaign, when the Pack opened 0-5 en route to a 4-12 finish. Favre was a sophomore at Southern Miss when the Packers last succumbed to such losing depths.
SERIES HISTORY
The Packers have won five of the seven all-time regular season meetings with the Panthers, including each of the last three. Green Bay prevailed by a 24-14 count on the road in the most recent matchup, which occurred in a Monday night game during Week 1 of the 2004 campaign. The Panthers' last win in the series was a 31-14 triumph in Charlotte during the 2000 season.
The Packers won the only postseason meeting between the two teams all-time, a 30-13 affair in the 1996 NFC Championship Game.
Carolina head coach John Fox is 0-2 against Green Bay in his career. The Packers' Mike Sherman is 3-1 against the Panthers during his tenure in Green Bay, and is 2-0 head-to-head versus Fox.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Underestimating Favre is never a good idea, but not thinking much of the rest of his team is probably necessary. The Packers have far too many weaknesses to rally and be a division-winner this season, but that doesn't mean they won't win a handful of games they're predicted to lose. Favre is generally golden in big games, and should be able to move the offense down the field at a regular clip this week. But Green Bay will ultimately be undone by its defense, which won't figure out how to stop Steve Smith or Stephen Davis consistently enough to secure the victory.
Carolina by DD
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