NFL Thursday Night Football Preview: Panthers, Packers attempt to bounce back from frustrating losses

Is it worse to lose a close, heartbreaking match at the end, or to be completely devastated? We could ask the Green Bay Packers and the Carolina Panthers.

The two teams facing each other this Thursday evening are coming off defeats, and these defeats were very different. The Packers lost 20-17 to the Lions last week, with numerous mistakes, including a partially blocked field goal late in the game that would have tied the game. Fans and players also had a lot of problems with the refereeing.

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While the Packers could come back on a play or two that could have changed the game, the Panthers were done by halftime. They trailed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-6 at halftime and lost 43-13 in a stunning blowout. The Panthers looked like an improved team before what happened against the Buccaneers last week.

The Packers have had a strange season. They weren’t good for four weeks but came away with a 2-2 record. Then they blew out the Cowboys and Bears in back-to-back weeks before losing to the Lions, although it wasn’t a bad loss. The Panthers were 3-2 heading into the Buccaneers game, with Bryce Young having a true breakout season. Young didn’t play well against Tampa Bay, but no one on Carolina’s side did. They need to show that the performance was an anomaly, even though they also suffered a loss to the Bears in which they gave up 59 points.

It’s never a fun week for an NFL team after a loss. Best to come back and play again right away. This Thursday, both teams are enjoying the short week more than usual.

Who needs it most?

The difference between these two teams’ situations could be as simple as this: The Panthers play in the mediocre NFC South, and the Packers play in the NFC North, which might be the toughest division in the NFL. The Panthers don’t want to suffer another loss and fall behind .500, but no other team is going to get away with this division. The Packers are already three losses behind the Vikings in the division and the Bears and Lions are also very tough. Green Bay can’t fall too far behind in the division, especially with a home loss to an opponent it’s better to beat.

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Key player: Packers RB Josh Jacobs

The Packers will have a lot more balance with Jacobs off the commissioner’s exempt list. Jacobs was ineffective in his return last week with just 36 rushing yards on 11 attempts, but he added 55 yards and a touchdown on five catches. The Packers game went nowhere without him in the lineup. Although offensive line issues will continue to prevent Green Bay from having a great running game, it should at least keep defenses honest. There should be some concern about how Jacobs plays on a short week, after not playing at all for the first six weeks. But he faces a Panthers defense that allowed 258 rushing yards last week against the Buccaneers. Carolina’s defense gave up 291 rushing yards in Week 1 to the Bears, and while the run defense improved after that, Sunday’s performance against Tampa Bay was troubling. Jacobs and the Packers will test their defense early on.

Betting Market Monitoring

This game was Packers -7 during the offseason, but reopened a combination of Green Bay -3.5 and -4 on the sportsbooks — in part due to Carolina playing one of the worst games of the season in a 43-13 loss as a 3-point home favorite to the Bucs. Keep an eye on WR Matthew Golden and DT Devonte Wyatt for the Packers, whose play is questionable. The Panthers are a remarkable 13-0 ATS in their last 13 games following a loss. It’s tough for Carolina to play worse than last week, so was it a bad game or a bad sign? I think it was more likely a momentary breakdown and that Bryce Young & Co. can hang on to a struggling Green Bay team and keep this number within bounds. —Ben Fawkes

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Check out more of Ben’s work at the Yahoo Sports betting center.

Fantasy managers are optimistic for the Week 8 opener between the Panthers and Packers, as the total is set at 47.5. Here are three themes to consider as you enjoy the game.

1. Can Bryce Young find his rhythm again? Every time Young feels like he’s fully entered the Circle of Trust, he seems to have a setback – Tampa Bay had lunch last week. Green Bay’s defense has been better than expected this year, especially against the pass.

2. What does Josh Jacobs do for an encore? Jacobs recorded a strong RB11 finish in his season debut, although it was in the receiving game where he made his mark. Running lanes might be harder to find behind a poorly played Green Bay offensive line.

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3. How will the Carolina WR room work? Although Jalen Coker went undrafted while Tetairoa McMillan was a first-round pick, both players have produced at similar levels when they are both on the field. Of course, for either to reach their projection here, Young needs to play better and Carolina’s offensive line needs to bounce back from a tough game. —Scott Pianoowski

See more of Scott’s work at Yahoo Sports Fantasy Center.