The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers are both coming off losses and need to turn things around quickly with a head-to-head matchup on Thursday Night Football. While neither team looks particularly great right now, Thursday’s Packers and Panthers matchup should be an entertaining one for football fans to watch with quite a few big plays.
Let’s dive into our bold predictions for the Panthers vs Packers matchup at Lambeau Field to kick off Week 8.
Josh Jacobs Sets Season-High in Rushing Yards for Green Bay Packers
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Oct 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs the ball for a first down during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Making this prediction should tell you just how bad the Packers rushing offense has been this season. Entering Week 8, Green Bay ranks last in rushing yards per game (59.9) with only two other teams averaging fewer than 80 yards per game on the ground. Alarmingly, the Packers haven’t had a single player rush for 45-plus yards in a game this season. That will change on Thursday Night Football. Against a Carolina defense that ranks 30th in Rush EPA (-0.039) with the most rushing yards per game allowed (153.2), Jacobs will become the first Packers running back this season to hit 50 rushing yards.
Tetatiroa McMillan Eclipses 100 Yards
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Nov 2, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is able to catch a would-be touchdown while being covered by Green Bay Packers cornerback Nate Hobbs (21) during the second quarter of their game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
In his last meeting with Green Bay, Tetairoa McMillan only put up 46 receiving yards on six targets in a 16-13 win at Lambeau Field. He’ll more than double that on Thursday Night Football in Week 8. Coming off a rough showing at home against Tampa Bay (178 net passing yards), we fully expect the Panthers’ passing game to rebound versus Green Bay. McMillan (6-foot-5) has a massive size advantage over Keisean Nixon (5-foot-10), and rookie cornerback Brandon Cisse (100.0 passer rating allowed) will have his hands full when they match up one-on-one. Look for McMillan to deliver his third 100-yard performance of the season.
Bryce Young is Sacked 3+ Times
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Dec 24, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) is sacked by Green Bay Packers linebacker Preston Smith (91) as linebacker Rashan Gary (52) helps defend in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
While Green Bay still won’t have Micah Parsons for this Thursday Night Football matchup, Week 8 does provide a national audience with a good opportunity to see how effective the Packers pass rush has been this season. Don’t let the 21.4 percent pressure rate (16th in the NFL) fool you; Green Bay has been adept at getting to the quarterback this season. It also helps out defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon that Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has a 6.94 percent sack rate this season, having been sacked twice in all six starts in 2026. With Carolina missing right tackle Monroe Freeling and left tackle Rasheed Walker facing a team that knows his tendencies all too well, we’re predicting that Young is sacked at least three times on Thursday.
Green Bay Packers 27, Carolina Panthers 24
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) calls for a snap against Detroit Lions during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026.
Injuries could define this Panthers vs. Packers matchup. Carolina could be without edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (hamstring) on a short week, further weakening a defense that already has starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve. Meanwhile, the Packers offense will be starting a third-string center (John Williams) with a backup at right tackle, and starting off-ball linebackers Zaire Franklin (hairline fracture in leg) and Edgerrin Cooper (Achilles) are out. It should at least make for a closer matchup. While both quarterbacks should have ample success throwing deep to their wide receivers, we do believe Green Bay has the signal-caller more capable of making plays on his own, and its defense might be slightly better right now. With this game being played at Lambeau Field, we’re picking the Packers to come out on top, with rookie Trey Smack converting on his field-goal attempts this time.