Official Texans vs. Panthers Game Thread, 9/23/2021

[Arky]

The 1-1 Texans host the 2-0 Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football this week. The Texans had a road loss last weekend, losing 31-21 to the Cleveland Browns while the Panthers made it look easy beating the Saints at home, 26-7. This game will be the Panthers first road game. It's early in the season, but the Panthers so far have good stats in some defensive categories. Panther QB Sam Darnold seems to have adjusted well to his new team. The Texans will need to figure out a way to stop RB Christian McCaffrey.

The Texans will start rookie QB David Mills so it could be either magic or tragic....

The Panthers were 3½ pt favorites early but the injury to Texan QB Tyrod Taylor made the line shoot up to 7½ to 9. If the Texan defense can keep on forcing some turnovers, I'll take a chance on the rookie holding his own so gimme those points:

Panthers 28, Texans 26

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TV = NFLN, Thursday, 7:20pm, 9/23/2021

Announcers = Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Kristina Pink

The line = Panthers by 7½ to 9

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Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = LA Chargers @ Kansas City, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (early) = New Orleans @ New England, Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth

FOX (late) = Tampa Bay @ LA Rams, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

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Other prime time:

SNF = Green Bay @ San Francisco (NBC)

MNF = Philadelphia @ Dallas (ESPN)

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Arky

The Panthers were 3½ pt favorites early but the injury to Texan QB Tyrod Taylor made the line shoot up to 7½ to 9. If the Texan defense can keep on forcing some turnovers, I'll take a chance on the rookie holding his own so gimme those points:

Panthers 28, Texans 26

This is an ick game to pick against a spread. Short week, plus it's Mills' first start without the benefit of even a full week of prep. But home teams are tough on Thursday nights, and the better coached team always has an advantage. In a small sample size, the Texans coaches seem to have the team outperforming their perceived talent. Plus, the Panthers offense is great with McCaffrey, but it seems hard to expect Darnold to pile on points through the air.

The Panthers are winning this though, just a question of by how much. The closer this game gets to -9, -9.5, -10 or higher, the more I'd avoid. Games with rookie QBs can spiral out of control in a hurry, but I don't see Mills throwing a bunch of picks. I don't see the Texans slowing down the Panthers ground game. And they're likely to play behind at least half or more of this one, with the Panthers' keeping the clock churning. Feels like Panthers 23-13 to me. I'd take the Panthers, boot the points and take the under.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

This is an ick game to pick against a spread. Short week, plus it's Mills' first start without the benefit of even a full week of prep. But home teams are tough on Thursday nights, and the better coached team always has an advantage. In a small sample size, the Texans coaches seem to have the team outperforming their perceived talent. Plus, the Panthers offense is great with McCaffrey, but it seems hard to expect Darnold to pile on points through the air.

The Panthers are winning this though, just a question of by how much. The closer this game gets to -9, -9.5, -10 or higher, the more I'd avoid. Games with rookie QBs can spiral out of control in a hurry, but I don't see Mills throwing a bunch of picks. I don't see the Texans slowing down the Panthers ground game. And they're likely to play behind at least half or more of this one, with the Panthers' keeping the clock churning. Feels like Panthers 23-13 to me. I'd take the Panthers, boot the points and take the under.

We'll see. Hoping for an entertaining game, at least. Mills' inexperience definitely a concern. Important that the coaches give him the leeway to do what he can and the OL do their best to keep him clean. He's probably going to be the starter for at least a month so an injury would be a disaster....

[Keith]

I assume Jeff Driskel will be the backup, but last I saw he was still on the practice squad. I guess I'm pessimistic on my expectations for Mills as a rookie. I don't think of Driskel as being a big drop from Mills in this game.

We'll see... hopefully Mills will surprise me.

[Arky]

Texans kicked off.

Both teams do a 3 and out.

Panthers have the ball for a 2nd time.

12:36 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Panthers put a drive together and Darnold keeps for the last 6 yards.

Panthers 7, Texans 0

6:36 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Panthers go for it on 4th and 1 inside the Texan 10 and the Texans get a stop. Ball turns over on downs. Texan's ball.

Still, Panther 7, Texans 0

10:47 left in the half.

Edit: McCaffrey with a hamstring injury.

[Arky]

Just when I was going to say the Texans have zero pass rush, Merci gets home and sacks Darnold.

Panthers punting with 1:44 left in the half.

Texans fair catch the punt at their 36.

Might be headed to a 7-0 halftime score.

Game is kinda blah..... Texans not taking chances - running the ball a lot and not doing a very good job at it....

[Arky]

Wooo! Texan offense comes alive!

Waste no time going down the field and finish with a 1 yard passing TD to Miller.

Argh, Slye misses the XP.

Panthers 7, Texans 6

25 seconds left in the half.

[Arky]

Mills at the half: 9/11, 79 yards, 7.2 avg, 1 TD, 0 INT, 126.9 rating.

Panthers ahead on 1st downs (12-7), yardage (187-108) and ToP (17:24 to 12:36) yet Texans only trail by one.

Texan run game just a 3.0 avg.

Might be a better 2nd half....

[Keith]

Ugh, missed most of the first half for family stuff, will have to catch up on my DVR. Thanks Arky as always for the commentary.

Sucks that Tyrod is out. This seems like the Texans game easily if he is still playing.

[Arky]

Panthers score on a handoff to the TE (Tremble). 7 yards.

Good drive if you're a Panther fan.

Panthers 14, Texans 6

6:20 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Panthers add a 21 yard FG by Gonzales.

Panthers 17, Texans 6

12:44 left in the game.

[Arky]

Slye answers with a 53 yard FG for the Texans.

Panthers 17, Texans 9

9:09 left in the game.

Texans need a quick stop or a turnover.....

[Arky]

Darnold does a QB sneak for a 1 yard TD.

Panthers 24, Texans 9

4:07 left in the game.

Darnold dink and dunks and the Texan defense gives up some chunk rushes.

Oh well. Maybe the Texans offense will open it up, now....

[Arky]

Texans fail on 4th and 11 from around midfield.

Panthers get a first down and are now in victory formation.

Final score:

Panthers 24, Texans 9

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Panthers aren't that good but they were much better than the Texans tonight.

Might take Davis Mills/the offense, defense and everyone else 6 or 8 games to find out what they do best. Very much an "ungelled" team at this point. Weak spots in the secondary. Not that great against the run....

Next up will be a tough game in Buffalo....

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Keith

I don't see Mills throwing a bunch of picks. I don't see the Texans slowing down the Panthers ground game. And they're likely to play behind at least half or more of this one, with the Panthers' keeping the clock churning. Feels like Panthers 23-13 to me. I'd take the Panthers, boot the points and take the under.

$$$

Texans kinda handcuffed the playbook on Mills, which kept him from throwing picks when he wasn't absorbing some tough hits. The Panthers run game wasnt quite a strong as anticipated with McCaffrey out injured. Texans did play from behind, and point scoring was limited with the Panthers playing it safe offensively. Needed that Texans FG to be a TD, but I'll cash a win against the spread with the under paying too.

[Arky]

The 2-1 Titans seem to be the best in the AFCS right now. They got by 0-3 Indy 25-16 no problem today.

The 0-3 Jags were in it until late 3rd qtr against the Cardinals. Two INT's and two lost fumbles by rookie QB Trevor Lawrence ended that. Jags fall 31-19.

The KC Chiefs are 1-2.

The Texan's upcoming opponent, the 2-1 Buffalo Bills, cruised over Washington today 43-21.

Early line for Texans @ Bills is the Bills by 16½.