Carolina at Atlanta

What a difference a year makes. Last year the Falcons had the best record in the NFC, while Carolina finished with the worst record in the entire NFL with just two wins. That led to the Falcons laying 14 points when these clubs met in Atlanta last year. Things have certainly changed. Through five weeks, the Falcons have already lost as many games as they did all last season. The pair of teams they have beaten this year have a combined three wins, and they only beat them by a combined 6 points in the two games. Carolina may only be 1-4, but no team has beaten them by more than 7 points, including last year's Super Bowl Champions Green Bay. I predicted in my preseason podcast on ESPN that the Panthers would end the season with a winning ATS record. After five weeks, they haven't lost a game vs. the number. Cam Newton has revitalized an offense that produced just 258 yards per game last year, but is now ranked No. 5 in the league at 428 yards per game. The Panthers are now 10-4 ATS on the road vs. a team with a losing home record in their last 14 and this is a team that now believes. The Falcons are giving up 26 points per game and they are in disarray. I like the Panthers to at least keep this one close.