Published Jan 8, 12:21pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jan 8, 12:21pm ET
Grok AI
Updated Jan 8, 12:21pm ET
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| Carolina Panthers | +10.5 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Rams | -10.5 (-110) |
After the Rams' Week 15, 41-34 shootout win over the Lions, they were in contention for the NFC West title, the #1 seed in the conference, and perhaps a clear road to Super Bowl LX.
However, they blew a seemingly safe 30-14 lead over the Seahawks in Seattle and lost 38-37 in overtime. This set Seattle on the road to the top seed.
LA followed that up with a 27-24 loss to the Falcons. They beat the dreadful Cardinals in Week 18 to finish at 12-5.
Now, they travel to Carolina despite having won 4 more games than the Panthers. Carolina upset them in Week 13, 31-28. Rams QB Matthew Stafford fumbled with 2:32 left in the game. The Panthers recovered and ran out the clock.
The fans in Carolina are going nuts. Matthew Stafford is sacked and loses the ball and the #Panthers are in business. pic.twitter.com/VGf4gwApRi
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 30, 2025
On paper, this is a mismatch. LA finished 1st in the NFL in points per game, averaging 30.5. They were 5th in turnover differential at +11. Stafford's arm and Puka Nacua, Colby Parkinson, and Davante Adams helped the Rams lead the league in passing yards per game. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined to bring them in at 7th in rushing yards per game.
Adams is expected to play after missing several weeks with a hamstring injury.
On defense, they have a solid pass rush led by Byron Young, Jared Verse, and Kobie Turner. They are vulnerable on defense, ranked right in the middle in defensive passing yards per game and 20th in defensive rushing yards per game.
ALSO SEE: Bills vs Jaguars | Wild Card Odds & NFL Pick (Jan 11)
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Kevin Dotson, G | INJURED |
| Quentin Lake, DB | INJURED |
| Josh Wallace, DB | INJURED |
| Terrance Ferguson, TE | INJURED |
| Davante Adams, WR | INJURED |
| Blake Corum, RB | INJURED |
| Tyler Higbee, TE | INJURED |
| Alaric Jackson, T | INJURED |
| Omar Speights, LB | INJURED |
| Kyren Williams, RB | INJURED |
| Braden Fiske, DL | INJURED |
| Jaylen McCollough, DB | INJURED |
| Xavier Smith, WR | INJURED |
One year after going 5-12 and two years after going 2-15, the Panthers won the NFC South.
Who cares that they won it with an 8-9 record?
Are they ready to take that next step? Probably not. QB Bryce Young showed significant improvement. It wasn't hard, given how bad and overmatched he'd seemed before this year. He looked and played like a bust. And people called him a bust.
Now? He threw for over 3,000 yards, had 23 TD passes, and 11 picks. Does that mean he'll justify Carolina selecting him first overall? Not yet. But it's his third year and he's going to the playoffs.
Bryce Young 2025 Full Season Highlights
— IAmWestsideFetti 💙🖤🤟🏾 (@4MR_Fetti) January 5, 2026
• 3,015 Passing
• 23 TDs / 11 INTs
• 304/478 (63.5% comp)
• 87.8 Passer Rate
217 Rushing | 2 Rushing TDs pic.twitter.com/hps4x7lxF6
Young played reasonably well in the Week 18 matchup with the Bucs. It was and wasn't for the division title since the Panthers lost the game and won the division anyway after the Falcons helped them by beating the Saints. Young completed 24 of 35 passes for 2 TDs and 1 pick. Carolina couldn't get its rushing attack going with Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard struggling in the rainy muck in Tampa.
But they made the playoffs.
The Panthers might look overmatched against the Rams, but they did beat LA in Week 13 and were not intimidated by the litany of stars Sean McVay rolls out.
NFL history is littered with playoff upsets where the young team that "wasn't ready" turned out to be ready.
Those factors, however, don't change the reality of the situation. The Panthers were near the bottom of the league in points scored per game. They're 15th in passing yards allowed per game and 20th in rushing yards allowed per game. Their pass rush is weak. They were 9th in the league in picks. Stafford tends to throw the ball up for grabs, though he's no longer as careless as he used to be. Carolina needs to pressure him. If he's able to stand there and scan the field with impunity, he'll pick the Panthers apart.
Carolina must-must-must run the ball with Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, something they did not do against the Bucs, with the caveat of the rainy weather contributing to the lack of a run game.
The young Panthers are reasonably healthy after a long season. The same is not true for the banged-up Rams.
| PLAYER | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Claudin Cherelus, LB | INJURED |
| Robert Rochell, DB | INJURED |
| Krys Barnes, OLB | INJURED |
| Robert Hunt, OL | INJURED |
| David Moore, WR | INJURED |
| Tershawn Wharton, DE | INJURED |
| Rico Dowdle, RB | INJURED |
| Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE | INJURED |
For the Rams-Panthers Wild Card matchup, there's an argument that Carolina should treat this as a part of their "innocent climb," to reference a Pat Riley term for a young team on the rise but probably not ready for prime time.
LA is nearing the end of the line with this nucleus. Stafford's career is winding down and McVay could leave when Stafford does.
Stafford will likely have Adams back in the fold. Young is vulnerable to mistakes in his first playoff game.
But the game will be tighter than most expect. Carolina will keep it close enough to put a scare into the Rams. A break here and a break there to the tune of Stafford turning the ball over and Young focusing on the running game, strategic passes, and ball security, could lead to an upset.
It's a heavy spread for a playoff game with or without the Panthers' 8-9 record. They will keep it close and have a puncher's chance to win.
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Pick
Carolina Panthers +10.5
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