NFL picks and predictions, Panthers vs. Titans 2015: Carolina favored to stay undefeated

The Carolina Panthers should be smelling a trap Sunday in Nashville.

In the last four weeks, the Panthers have kept their undefeated season alive by beating the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers -- four pretty good football teams. This week, they are playing the Tennessee Titans, who don't seem to pose much of a threat with their 2-6 record.

The Titans, though, might be a little more dangerous than a quick glimpse would show. They snapped a six-game losing streak last week with an overtime win over the New Orleans Saints, with Marcus Mariota outdueling Drew Brees in a typical Saints shootout. Mariota was 28 of 39 for 371 yards and four touchdowns without throwing an interception, while Brees threw for 387 yards and three scores but was picked off once.

Either way, Mariota will have a much stiffer test against a Panthers defense that leads the NFL in interceptions and is second against the pass. The Titans have been better defensively than they have on offense, but no one has been able to stop Carolina's combination of Cam Newton's deep passing game and the 114.3 yards a game on the ground that they are getting from Newton and Jonathan Stewart.

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