This is gettable at -4 if you shop around, and that's my best play on the game. The line has come down significantly after being artificially inflated. It's a tough ask for Carolina to play at Seattle on a short week, and even if Andy Dalton will take care of the ball better than Bryce Young, Geno Smith is still the best quarterback -- and the Seahawks still have the best weapons -- in the game. Again, try to find -4 before kickoff as that is a much more attractive play.

We rarely see a line move in the direction of a team whose starting QB is declared out. That's the unusual case here, with the spread shrinking after senior citizen Andy Dalton replaced injured rookie Bryce Young. Dalton has no shortage of experience but steps into a huddle with limited talent. Seattle's main man, WR DK Metcalf, appears ready to go after an injury put his status in doubt. He could make mincemeat out of a secondary minus ailing CB Jaycee Horn.

Carolina’s defense is still above average, 13th in the league in opponent points per game with 22, and this is despite the injuries on the defense. The Seahawks come off a high-scoring, OT win Detroit and may be due for some regression after that game since their defense is allowing 30.5 points per game. Carolina has struggled offensively, only averaging 13.5 points per game, and could see some positive regression with Dalton taking over at QB, who should be able to make some of the throws that Young was not able to so far in his career, but that’s if the offensive line gives Dalton the time to do so.

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker is going to be heavily featured Sunday. The Panthers give up 4.5 yards per carry and just lost leading tackler Shaq Thompson. Seattle is starting two backup offensive tackles and will want to protect them against pass rushers Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu. Look for Walker, who got 17 carries in last week's close game versus Detroit, to get at least that many Sunday.

No Panthers receiver played more snaps last week than second-round pick Jonathan Mingo. The 6-2, 225-pounder out of Ole Miss played 24 snaps out wide, 17 in the slot, and drew eight targets. Now he has Andy Dalton throwing to him, in a game in which the Panthers figure to be trailing. Dalton thrives at getting the ball out quick, and Mingo's best trait is his ability to gain yards after the catch.

This line jumped from a lookahead number of Seahawks -4 after Seattle beat Detroit and the Carolina offense against looked awful. I think the Seahawks are a much better team than the Panthers and would have this line over a TD, but injury factors on both sides are pushing me to take Carolina. For Seattle, the O-line is still missing both tackles and the secondary is ravaged by injuries. For Carolina, Andy Dalton should be able to have more short-term success as an experienced option in a great matchup. If the Panthers defense plays at the level they have over the first two weeks, they should cover this game.

We saw Thielen come alive last week with seven catches including FOUR in the first quarter. He was in the slot nearly 70% of the time, which isn't a surprise given his history. He'll play Seattle, which ranks in the bottom-10 in slot targets seen per game, catch rate allowed to slot receivers (79%) and has defensed one pass over 19 targets. Being fair, they played the Lions and Rams, both of whom use their slot receivers a bunch. But the Panthers did last week and, especially with Andy Dalton under center, should continue to. In 2021 and 2022, Dalton has targeted slot receivers on 36% of his pass attempts with a 9% off-target rate, both of which are phenomenal for Thielen's outlook.

Seattle is on my poo list for winning in Detroit last week -- the Lions had two brutal turnovers that led to Seahawks TDs. Poo happens. I don't happen to think Seattle is that good, but Carolina has looked pathetic so far offensively and this spread is popping with Bryce Young missing another practice today. I'm not sure Andy Dalton starting is the worst thing for the Panthers regarding their chances of an upset Sunday as Young doesn't look ready for the NFL, but even with Dalton I still think Seattle should win by a TD at home as Carolina is dealing with many other injuries on a short week off an MNF loss.

What makes the Seahawks offense dangerous is that they have multiple ways to strike quick, and often for that matter. Carolina right now just doesn't have the same offensive cohesiveness nor the explosiveness to be able to keep pace with Seattle. Even if they find some success moving the ball against the Seahawks, they aren't equipped to keep up that scoring pace.

Meant to put this in mid MNF but I fell asleep watching the Panthers offense. I think Frank Reich will get this team going eventually but a long trip on a short week is a problem, even if the Seattle defense isn't as good as Atlanta or New Orleans. Carolina's taking on tons of injuries on defense and Geno Smith bounced back nicely in Week 2.

Carolina lost top cornerback Jaycee Horn in Week 1, and on Monday the Panthers lost team leader Shaq Thompson to a significant ankle injury. The veteran linebacker racked up 135 tackles last season and had three tackles in the first quarter vs. the Saints before getting hurt. Top pass rusher Brian Burns also tweaked his ankle Monday night and was not as effective as usual. On a short week, Carolina must travel to play a rejuvenated Seahawks team. Seattle's defense has disappointed so far, but gets to face Bryce Young in his second road start or an immobile Andy Dalton. Whoever starts will suffer from a lack of explosive weapons around him.