Cam Newton playing hurt didn't do the Panthers any favors. Look for Carolina, playing its final home game against a terrible home team, to put forth a huge effort to save Ron Rivera's job. NFL receiving yards leader Julio Jones (hip, ribs) is a gametime decision. Grab the points.

The Falcons snapped their five-game losing streak with a 40-14 win against the Cardinals, while the Panthers pushed their losing streak to six games in a 12-9 home loss to the Saints. The key here is that the Panthers will be without QB Cam Newton and Taylor Heinicke will make his first career start. The Falcons only have one road win this season, but the backup QB is enough of an edge to side with Atlanta to cover.

Without Cam Newton at QB, the Panthers will hope that reserve Taylor Heineke can come in and be competent enough to have success against a beat up Falcons defense. Despite what you saw Monday night against New Orleans, the Panthers defense will face a stiffer challenge on the perimeter from this Falcons receiving corps. Yes the line is close, that's giving credit to the Panthers defense and offensive weapons, but without their biggest one in Cam Newton, I don't see Carolina pulling off the win.

With Cam Newton out, this line has swung six points toward the Falcons, and now the market is valuing the Panthers with Taylor Heinicke the same as the Cardinals (making the Falcons about six points on a neutral field in both cases). I think that valuation is off -- the Panthers were -6 on the lookahead and were already getting dinged in the market for how Cam looked. And they still bring DVOA's No. 2 rush offense into a matchup with an atrocious Atlanta defense, which will take pressure off Heinicke in the passing game. The Falcons have no reason to show up on the road, so the Panthers can win ugly here.

In view of Cam Newton's sore shoulder that has limited his range, Carolina might be better off with long-baller replacement Taylor Heinicke -- next week. The undrafted QB, on his third roster in four seasons, has launched only five passes as a pro. He had a 730-yard masterpiece in college, but this is altogether different. Atlanta broke the chains that held the back offensively by scoring 40 last Sunday, which included a defensive TD, and will take advantage of Carolina missing LB Shaq Thompson (shoulder).

Last week the Falcons had three turnovers and seven sacks. They should have another big day defensively against Panthers backup QB Taylor Heinicke. Tevin Coleman also should have a great game.