Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants prediction, pick and odds Sun. 9/18: Battle of the running backs

Yardbarker Quick Pick

We're liking the idea of fading what quickly became one of the more popular teams out of Week 1. Saquon Barkley looked great, and we're rooting for him to stay healthy in 2022. Still, this Giants defense has issues, and after seeing backup RB Dontrell Hilliard have a big game against them through the air, we're confident Christian McCaffrey will power the Panthers to a win in this marquee running back matchup. Take Panthers +2.5. — Griffin Carroll, Yardbarker

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"Turn the page as quick as we can to go against Carolina," first-year head coach Brian Daboll said. "We're going to have to empty it again against a good opponent on Sunday. I think some of our fundamentals can improve and that's what we're going to need to do."

The Panthers experienced the other side of drama.

"We're not discouraged," coach Matt Rhule said. "There are so many places where we're better than last year."

The Giants and Panthers took similar paths in their openers. They were both inept offensively in the first halves of their games, then perked up and took leads with what seemed like unexpected surges.

The Giants, who gambled with a final-minute two-point conversion, were further rewarded when the Tennessee Titans missed on a potential 47-yard winning field goal in a 21-20 win. The Panthers lost 26-24 when rookie Cade York of the Cleveland Browns drilled a 58-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.

The Panthers didn't contain Cleveland's Nick Chubb (141 rushing yards) and the Browns' ground attack. Carolina had the second-worst rush defense in the opening week (217 rush yards allowed), ahead of only Tennessee because of what the Giants did. New York cranked out 238 rushing yards, with 164 from running back Saquon Barkley.

Barkley had 24 touches on offense that resulted in 194 total yards.

"Saquon just has to trust the blocking and run the way he knows how to run," Daboll said.

For the Giants, who won their first opener since 2016 (the last time they had a winning season), the home opener is bound to come with heightened anticipation. There's no reason to get too giddy, yet.

"We've got a long way to go," Daboll said. "There are a lot of corrections that need to be made at this early part of the season and we've got to be on top of it. We have to be consistent with that (effort) regardless of the outcome."

The Panthers unveiled a new look with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. It took time to get traction, particularly as running back Christian McCaffrey, who's expected to have an impact similar to Barkley's, was held to 57 yards of total offense.

There's a lot that needs to be smoothed over.

"Go back and identify what they did right, what they did wrong," Rhule said of making upgrades.

Panthers offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo spent parts of two seasons as head coach of the Giants, with a strong 2016 (11-5 before a playoff loss) and miserable 2017 (2-10 before being fired).

In the Tennessee game, the Giants were far from an offensive juggernaut as it took time to get rolling. So there will be concerns about the status of receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (knee), who departed against the Titans. Edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux (knee) and Azeez Ojulari (calf) were out for the opener and are listed as questionable for Week 2.

On defense, the Giants will be without cornerback Aaron Robinson, who had his appendix removed Wednesday.

Carolina put veteran kickoff and punt returner Andre Roberts on injured reserve with a knee injury. Shi Smith will return punts and Chuba Hubbard will handle kickoff returns against the Giants.

The Panthers have won seven of 12 regular-season matchups against the Giants, including the playoffs.