The NFL closes out Week 15 on Monday Night Football with a matchup featuring the top two teams in the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers host the division champion New Orleasn Saints with kickoff set for 5:15 p.m. PT on ESPN. Joe Tessitore and Jason Witten will call the game from the booth, with Booger McFarland serving as an analyst from the field. Lisa Salters continues her duties as the sideline reporter.
The Saints locked up the NFC South and have a chance to take a full game lead on the Los Angeles Rams for the best record in the NFC. A win moves them in position to clinch home field next week. The Panthers are 6-7 and hanging around the bottom of the wild card race in spite of a five-game losing streak. If they win, they’ll join Philadelphia and Washington at a half game back of Minnesota for the second wild card berth.
The Saints are a 6.5-point favorite over the Panthers, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. I’m a fan of the home underdog, and particularly on primetime, so I’ll be taking the points with Carolina.
Saints vs. Panthers, MNF
Time: 5:15 p.m. PT
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Channel: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Odds: Saints -6.5