Carolina @ Houston preview
NRG Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2017 ) Houston 17, Carolina 27
The Carolina Panthers’ outlook might not be so bleak with backup quarterback Kyle Allen at the helm after all. Allen will try to lead the Panthers to a second consecutive victory when they visit the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Allen is set to make his second straight start in place of Cam Newton, who is sidelined indefinitely by a Lisfranc injury in his foot. The second-year quarterback got the job done last week, going 19-of-26 for 261 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in a 38-20 win at Arizona - Carolina’s first victory of the season. The Texans are one defensive stop away from being undefeated, but they’re also just a couple plays away from being winless as all three of their games have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Panthers have won the last two meetings, including a 24-17 home victory in the most recent clash in 2015.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Texans -4. O/U: 47.5
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (1-2): Combined with his performance in Week 17 last year, Allen has thrown six touchdown passes without an interception in two career starts, and he has plenty of help on offense. Versatile back Christian McCaffrey recorded 188 yards from scrimmage and a rushing touchdown against the Cardinals and tight end Greg Olsen had two touchdown receptions while receivers Curtis Samuel and DJ Moore each caught a scoring pass. The Panthers have given up a lot on the ground, but that’s largely because they’re so stingy against the pass, ranking second in the NFL in pass defense.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (2-1): Houston’s offense has been inconsistent, but Deshaun Watson has been steady, passing for 778 yards with six touchdowns with only one interception. Watson has a solid receiving corps led by DeAndre Hopkins, but the Texans haven’t gotten much out of the backfield duo of Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson. The defense was torched by Drew Brees in Week 1 but has played well the last two weeks and boasts a couple of excellent pass rushers in J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus, who will try to put the pressure on Allen.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Carolina S Eric Reid and his younger brother, Houston S Justin Reid, will face one another in a game for the first time.
2. Hopkins has caught at least five passes in six consecutive contests.
3. Panthers DE Bruce Irvin will make his season debut Sunday after missing the first three games with a hamstring injury.
PREDICTION: Texans 24, Panthers 20