QBs: The Rams have Matthew Stafford, the frontrunner for MVP. He led the NFL in passing yards (4707) and passing touchdowns (46). He had two games in 2025 that made him look human… Week 13 at Carolina and Week 17 @ Atlanta.
The Panthers will rely on Bryce Young in his first taste of playoff football. Young (PFF: 70.5) had an up and down season in his third year. He’ll have to make plays with his legs to keep the Panthers alive.
Advantage: Rams (moderate)
RBs: Kyren Williams (1252 yards / 10 TDs) and Blake Corum (746 yards / 6 TDs) came two yards shy of producing 2000 yards rushing. The duo were both efficient in their last meeting at Carolina. I expect Corum to get involved significantly if his ankle is healthy enough.
Carolina’s duo of Rico Dowdle (1076 yards / 6 TDs) and Chuba Hubbard (511 yards / 1 TD) are solid runners as well. Both serve as safety valves for Bryce Young in the passing game too.
Advantage: Push
WRs: Puka Nacua and Davante Adams essentially ran away with the triple crown for NFL receiving. Nacua didn’t have the most receiving yards but his yards/game led the field over Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Adams will return to the lineup after aggravating his hamstring against Detroit. As for the rest of the depth chart. Tutu Atwell, Xavier Smith, and Konata Mumpfield will serve as the WR3 when the Rams use 11 personnel.
Tetairoa McMillan was Young’s favorite target this season, nearly catching twice as many passes as Xavier Legette. Jalen Coker will be CAR’s WR3.
Advantage: Rams (significant)
TEs: 2025 was the most successful season for the Rams tight end room. Colby Parkinson recorded 8 touchdowns, while Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson each added 3 a piece. The group should be fully healthy now that Higbee has returned and with Ferguson expected to play Saturday (hamstring).
Carolina’s tight ends are Tommy Tremble and Ja’Tavion Sanders. Both players average 14.6 yards/game.
Advantage: Rams (significant)
OL: My answer to this one largely depends on the status of Kevin Dotson. I’m not encouraged to know that it is not an outright, definitive answer that he is going to play. Justin Dedich is scheduled to fill in again at right guard if he can’t go. Dedich is very undersized for the guard position and would create a significant advantage for Carolina’s interior defensive linemen.
Carolina has one of the most underrated offensive lines featuring: Ekwonu-Lewis-Mays-Corbett-Moton. The Panthers offensive line is “filled out”.
Advantage: Push (if Dotson plays) or Panthers (moderate if Dotson is out)
DL: Poona Ford is the man to watch in these playoffs for the Rams. He will be asked to lead the charge in stopping the run. In Week 13, he was bothered with a calf injury. He appears to be healthier now. Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner will be called upon to rush the passer. The Rams may need some of their depth to step up, Tyler Davis and Larrell Murchison, in order to spell Ford, Fiske, and Turner at times.
A’Shawn Robinson, Derrick Brown, and Tershawn Wharton will be the DL for Carolina. Brown was a handful for Los Angeles’s line last game. They will need to find a way to slow him and attack the other two upfront.
Advantage: Rams (slight)
EDGE: Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Josiah Stewart combined for 22.5 sacks in the regular season. They haven’t created as much pressure (and sacks) in recent weeks. There is a lot of expectation on this group after dominating in the trenches in the 2024 playoffs.
DJ Wonnum and Nic Scourton will try to get after Stafford. Their collective sack total is: 8.
Advantage: Rams (significant)
LBs: Nate Landman and Omar Speights haven’t exactly lit the world on fire in the second half of this season. You wonder if their might be a lingering injury somewhere. Landman has made a name for himself with key turnovers and forcing punchouts when the defense needs it most.
Christian Rozeboom and Claudin Cherelus are probably two of the weakest linebackers that Stafford has ever faced. He will look to exploit them. But Rozeboom was a former teammate of his so he still needs to be careful.
Advantage: Rams (moderate)
DBs: A lot of people are wondering who the Rams will start at cornerback in the playoffs. With Quentin Lake returning, he will surely handle the nickel spot. Kam Curl is a guarantee at safety. As for the other three to four spots, that is a toss up between: Forbes, Witherspoon, Durant, Kinchens, McCullough, Williams, McCreary, and Wallace. Remember: Forbes did not perform well vs Carolina in Week 13. My guess is that it will be Durant, Kinchens, and Forbes. McCreary could be a sneaky insertion if Forbes or Witherspoon struggle.
Jaycee Horn, Trevon Moehrig, Michael Jackson, and Nick Scott have the higher floor and maybe a slightly higher ceiling. The secondary managed to intercept Stafford twice in Week 13 and that was without Horn and Moehrig.
Advantage: Panthers (moderate)
ST: For Rams fans, you are just hoping a game does not come down to special teams (a field goal, a punt return, etc.) Harrison Mevis has been more reliable since they made the kicking change mid year. I expect Sean McVay to go for it on 4th down more often than not.
The Panthers aren’t great on special teams either but their floor is much higher than Los Angeles.
Advantage: Panthers (moderate)
Coaching: Sean McVay will coach his 13th career playoff game. He has never coached against the same team twice in his playoff career. With the Rams having played Carolina (and lost), I expect McVay to be fired up to get this team rolling through the playoffs). My only potential concern is Chris Shula, whose defense has been inconsistent as of late.
Dave Canales is a good coach. Ejiro Evero (DC) knows Sean McVay well. I do not underestimate this group but it will be a challenge to beat LA twice in a three month span.
Advantage: Rams (moderate)
Who do you think is better on paper? Do the Rams play up to their ability or sink to the level of the Panthers?
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