Tommy Hayfield's Predictions, NFL 2011 Week 2: Green Bay Vs Carolina

Green Bay vs Carolina
How do you begin to analyze this game: Cam Newton set a rookie quarterback record for an opening (last week) start by throwing for 422 yards (and a 110+ quarterback rating.) That record by Otto Graham lasted since 1950. It was a loss, but we get the picture. This team will be exciting and they were even in a 28-21 loss last week to Arizona.

If you can conceive it the Panthers are number 1 after Sunday's games in yards per game: last year they weren't even in the top twenty teams after season's end. They even out-gained the Packers in total yardage in Week 1.

Green Bay--the Super Bowl champs have been established as 10.5 point favorites and they have that proven offense that can score even on the road, but the Cam Newton problem looms...what will the home fans get from Newton in his home opener against the champs? The Panthers will have problems stopping the Packers offense...how do you see the rookie impacting the game?

The Packers Opened Strong
The Packers opened the season with a 42-34 win against the Saints in a great football game last Thursday night. I think the Pack will put up big points against the Panthers.

New Skill Players
Green Bay
The Packers added wide receiver Randall Cobb--wide receiver, University of Kentucky-- in the draft and he made an impact last week with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Shaky Smithson--wide receiver-- a draft pick out of Utah is now on the injured reserve list and is out for the year. Alex Green--a big running back out of the University of Hawaii--was drafted by the Packers and will see a lot of special teams action most likely this year. The Packers drafted tight end DJ Williams who played in Arkansas...he will see special teams action most likely.

Carolina
Carolina, of course, added quarterback Cam Newton out of Auburn who is so dynamic how do you correctly praise him...he will put the Panthers in the end zone this year much more often than last year. The Panthers added Jerome Felton from waivers...he's a big fullback (6-0, 246) who played college in nearby Furman. Furman plays a lot of their games in North Carolina so he's a local kid. Carolina picked up second-year player Seyi Ajirotutu--a wide receiver-- on the waiver wire...he played last year for San Diego and averaged more than 20 yards a catch in limited action for the Chargers. Ajirotutu is a big wide receiver who has speed and size: he's 6-3, 211 lbs.

The Prediction
The early line puts the Packers up by 10.5...I think Green Bay will win this game (straight up), over 43, and I pick Green Bay to cover that huge 10.5 road favorite line. I pick Green Bay -10.5.

Check back this week for updates...if Cam Newton were to get injured the Pack might win by 40!

Related Stories:
Carolina Success Stories
Green Bay Team History
September 2011 Injured Reserve Report