Peyton Manning is starting to look like he may be worth every penny, and maybe a few more, that the Denver Broncos are paying him. That means that this week's match-up with the struggling Carolina Panthers should be a cakewalk for the Broncos, right? Not so fast! Who do you have winning this week's game?

The Panthers have the worst record in the NFC (2-6), but are coming off of a win against the Washington Redskins last week. They will hope to carry some momentum from last week's victory after finally closing out an opponent. Carolina led in the fourth quarter in three of its previous four games but wound up losing.

Although they've averaged 31.6 points over a 4-1 stretch, the Broncos could have trouble against a Carolina defense that has allowed one passing touchdown or less in seven of eight games. The Panthers have surrendered an average of 212.3 passing yards over their last four games, and haven't given up a 300-yard passing game since Sept. 30.

This will also be a homecoming of sorts for Broncos head coach John Fox. Fox’s nine seasons with the Panthers didn’t end well. He left after the team went 2-14 in 2010, but still has a home in the area and many friend throughout the organization.

The Broncos haven't faced the Panthers since a 30-10 loss in 2008, their only defeat in three meetings.

 

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