CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Las Vegas oddsmakers say the Green Bay Packers are road favorites over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The pundits say the Packers haven’t lost two games in a row with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback since 2010.

If you didn’t know better, you’d say Green Bay (6-1), not Carolina (7-0), was the undefeated team in this NFC showdown at Bank of America Stadium.

“The best part about what we’ve been able to do, we’re really not the target," Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis said. “We’ve been the underdog in a lot of games regardless of what our record is.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll have us [as] the underdog this week, and that’s OK with us. We go out and play the game, and that’s what it’s about for us. We don’t get caught up in who’s projected to win."

He’s serious, too.

“This is the NFL," Davis said. “This is not college ball. On any given Sunday you can be beat."

Here are five reasons the Panthers could beat the Packers on Sunday:

Have you seen the Green Bay defense the past two weeks? There are plenty of holes in this unit, much like those plastic cheeseheads the Green Bay fans wear. The Packers have given up a whopping 1,048 yards the past two games against San Diego and Denver. You have to go back three full games to get that total against a Carolina defense that ranks 10th in the NFL. Green Bay has given up 160 or more yards rushing in two of its past three games. The exception was San Diego, which ranks 29th in the NFL in rushing. Carolina, by the way, ranks first at 144 rushing yards a game. The Packers also have been susceptible to throws to the tight end. Greg Olsen leads Carolina in receptions with 33 catches for 516 yards and four touchdowns. Heard enough?

Can Superman and the Dark Knight vanquish the Cheeseheads? Cam Newton and Josh Norman give Carolina a good chance Sunday. Jonathan Dyer/USA TODAY Sports

Packers receivers can’t create separation. Aaron Rodgers' receivers can’t get open. Aaron Rodgers' receivers can’t get open. This was worth repeating because it’s still hard to believe Denver limited Rogers to 77 yards passing in Sunday night’s 29-10 victory. Teams are loading up against the run and keeping one safety back because the deep threat isn’t there as it was before Jordy Nelson suffered a season-ending injury. The Panthers haven’t been as stellar against the run as in past seasons, but if they can make Rodgers one-dimensional, there is more than enough talent in the secondary to hold down the passing game (see next item).

Josh Norman, “The Dark Knight." When Rodgers was asked what was different between this Carolina defense and the one he obliterated in a 38-17 victory at Green Bay last season, he immediately said Josh Norman. The fourth-year cornerback, who likens himself to “Batman," was undergoing the concussion protocol and didn’t face the Packers in 2014. This year, he has emerged as arguably the best cover corner in the NFL. None of the first seven opponents have had success throwing to his side; Seattle and Philadelphia barely tried. Norman isn’t the only difference in this secondary. Three of the four starters from last season’s starting group against Green Bay aren’t on the roster. The Panthers are faster, more athletic and more physical than they’ve been since coach Ron Rivera took over in 2011. As Norman said, the secondary drives the defense from the back of the bus.

Cam Newton, “Superman." Yes, a lot of self-named superheroes on this team. But the Carolina quarterback was still recovering from offseason ankle surgery when these teams met last season. He also never got a chance to get into a balanced attack, down 28-0 early in the second quarter. Newton is now healthy and playing at an MVP level. He’s on a career pace with 9.1 rushes per game. He’s keeping plays alive, and he’s making smarter decisions. His dump-off Monday night to fullback Mike Tolbert after escaping pressure turned into a 40-yard gain. It should be remembered that Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson had 78 yards on 10 carries in Week 2 against Green Bay, and Carolina calls more designed runs for Newton than Seattle does for Wilson.

Home-field advantage. This game isn’t being played at Lambeau Field, where the Packers are almost unbeatable. But the Panthers could be playing for the right to be at home and not frigid Green Bay in January. That’s enough motivation. The Panthers are 4-0 at home this season and have won six straight regular-season games at Bank of America Stadium. They are 15-5 at home over the past three seasons. They’ve created enough of an edge at home that Rivera isn’t interested in giving away any future home games for a trip to London. He’s also not interested in going to the frozen tundra in January.