New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)

Thursday’s NFL Matchup

CAROLINA (2-0) AT HOUSTON (1-1)

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KICKOFF: 8:20 p.m. (NFL Network)

OPENING LINE: Panthers by 7½, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Panthers 2-0, Texans 2-0.

SERIES RECORD: Panthers lead 3-2.

LAST MEETING: Panthers beat Texans 16-10 on Sept. 29,

2017 in Houston.

LAST WEEK: Panthers beat Saints 26-7; Texans lost to Browns 31-21.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Panthers DE Brian Burns has been getting steady pressure on opposing quarterbac­ks, although he has just two sacks to show . ... Texans rookie QB Davis Mills will make his first career start after Tyrod Taylor was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Mills, a third-round draft pick from Stanford, threw for 102 yards with a touchdown and an intercepti­on in the second half against the Browns after Taylor was injured.

KEY INJURIES: The Panthers will be without LG Pat Elflein (hamstring), so Dennis Daley will start. … Second-year DE Yetur Gross-Matos injured his ankle against the Saints and there’s a chance he could miss the game. … RB Christian McCaffrey will start despite experienci­ng leg cramps against the Saints. … Houston rookie WR Nico Collins was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. … WR Danny Amendola will likely miss the game with a thigh injury. … DB Terrance Mitchell is in the concussion protocol and probably won’t play. … S Justin Reid missed practice this week with a knee injury but coach David Culley said he’ll play against the Panthers.

STATS AND STUFF: The Panthers are 2-0 for the eighth time in team history. They have reached the playoffs six of the previous seven times they started 2-0. … This is Carolina’s first road game. … The Panthers have outscored their opponents 33-0 in the first half this season and outgained them 547-147. … Carolina has allowed just 93 yards rushing, the fewest in the NFL. The Panthers held RB Alvin Kamara to 5 yards rushing on eight carries. … Carolina has an NFL-leading 10 sacks in three games, led by three from OLB Haason Reddick. … QB Sam Darnold has completed 68.5% of his passes for 584 yards with three TDs and one intercepti­on. … Rookie CB Jaycee Horn had his first career intercepti­on against the Saints. … Veteran CB A.J. Bouye is expected to return and play nickel back for the Panthers after missing the first two games serving a suspension. Bouye played four seasons for the Texans (2013-16). … Houston RB Mark Ingram ran for a TD and caught a touchdown pass in his last Thursday night game in 2019 with Baltimore. … RB Phillip Lindsay had a TD reception last week and is one of two players in the NFL this season with a rushing and receiving touchdown.

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