It would be one thing if the Texans were going up against a team like the Giants or Falcons or Jaguars with a rookie quarterback playing his first game on a short week. No, they are facing the Panthers, the No. 1 defense in the NFL through the first two weeks of the season. The fact that it's a road game in Houston provides a little hesitation given that we are above a touchdown and the hook, but even if Carolina starts slow, it is going up against a defense that's allowing plenty of points this season. Also, Tyrod Taylor is not the only Texan injured. I could easily see this 34-9 type of game.

Few scenarios make the visitor in a night game worth spotting the host more than a touchdown. This is one of them: The league’s premier defense through two weeks against a rookie QB (Davis Mills) taken No. 67 as an intended backup in the draft. Throw in a first-year head coach (David Culley) coping with a short week, and Carolina should coast. Panthers QB Sam Darnold is growing comfy with his new team.

We’ve seen this type of quarterback issue Houston is experiencing before, and it rarely turns out sunny for the team with a rookie backup making his first start. Hello, Davis Mills. The Texans' offense was beginning to look like a force with Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) running the show, but I don’t expect that to continue with Mills. The spread first seemed to be a bit of an overreaction, but maybe not. Carolina wins by double digits.

Not sure if I will bet the spread on this game or not (don't love it at Panthers -7.5), but I have a hard time seeing Houston doing much of anything offensively with third-round rookie Davis Mills starting at quarterback for the injured Tyrod Taylor. Mills simply is not ready for the NFL and frankly may never be. Carolina has the NFL's No. 1 defense in several categories. The Texans could easily be held to single-digit points and the Panthers' offense isn't that great, so staying Under 44 seems likely even though it's a low total.

Don't let the hook scare you away from this one. Davis Mills will be at quarterback for Houston with Tyrod Taylor out due to injury, and I simply don't think he's ready to be on the field after being taken in the third round in this year's draft. Taylor is a great quarterback for this team with his priority on protecting the ball, but against what's quickly becoming one of the league's best defenses, I don't expect Mills to keep the turnover monster at bay. I think the chances are pretty high we get at least one defensive score from Carolina, and I can't see a defense that surrendered just six first downs to the Saints letting Mills backdoor them late. Carolina rolls here.

Nine Texans were hurt in Sunday's loss in Cleveland, and six of those players did not return. Among them: Tyrod Taylor (hamstring). Rookie Davis Mills did not impress in his debut, completing less than 50 percent of his passes and throwing one TD and an INT. Now he has a short week to prepare for the Panthers, who have allowed 21 points in their 2-0 start. The Panthers registered six sacks in their opener and on Sunday, they pressured Jameis Winston on 64 percent of his dropbacks. Carolina held the Saints to 128 total yards. Lay the points.