New York @ Carolina preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 20, 2015 ) Carolina 38, N.Y. Giants 35

The Carolina Panthers are rested, relatively healthy and feature some potentially impactful new faces as they prepare to host the New York Giants on Sunday. After defeating Cincinnati 31-21 in Week 3, the Panthers enjoyed a bye week before beginning a stretch in which they play three straight NFC East teams.

The Panthers' organization made some news during the off week by signing safety Eric Reid, who was the first player to join Colin Kaepernick in kneeling during the national anthem and has a grievance filed with the league. "He's a great player. We have great players in this locker room, and we've accepted him with open arms," quarterback Cam Newton told reporters of Reid, a one-time Pro Bowler with 10 interceptions in 70 career games. "For him to be on our team is a great thing." The Giants have been unable to get their offense going and are coming off a 33-18 home loss to New Orleans last week. They've lost their last two games against the Panthers in 2013 and 2015, giving up 38 points both times.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -7. O/U: 44.5

ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-3): New York enters the week ranked 29th in scoring (18.3 points per game) and star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has gone without a touchdown while averaging a career-low 10.7 yards per catch. "It's not all about just throwing it deep every play; that's not the answer to our solution," quarterback Eli Manning told reporters. "I know that's what everybody wants to do. It's an easy thing to say, 'Yeah, we'll throw it deep and all of our problems will be fixed.' It's still about finding completions and when you do throw it down the field, completing it." Rookie running back Saquon Barkley has been a spark with 260 rushing yards, 193 receiving yards and four total TDs.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2-1): Newton has five passing TDs and two more on the ground over the last two games and he's completing 67.4 percent of his passes, well over his career mark of 58.7. He and running back Christian McCaffrey have combined for 407 yards on the ground for the NFL's top rushing attack (166 yards per game). Tight end Greg Olsen (foot) will miss his third straight game but has increased activity in practice with the goal of returning in Week 6 at Washington, and wide receiver Curtis Samuels (chest) is expected to make his season debut Sunday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Carolina has won seven straight home games.

2. Giants LB Olivier Vernon (ankle) is expected to make his season debut.

3. New York has committed the fewest penalties (18) in the league. Carolina is tied for second on that list with 19.

PREDICTION: Panthers 28, Giants 20