Rams vs. Panthers Wild Card Preview: 6 Players Who Will Decide the Game
The Los Angeles Rams are heading to Charlotte with revenge on their minds. While the betting markets list the Rams as 10-point favorites, recent history tells a different story. In Week 13, the Carolina Panthers shocked the NFL with a 31-28 victory over Los Angeles, a game defined by Matthew Stafford turnovers and a relentless Panthers pass rush.
Now, the stakes are significantly higher. It is win or go home.
Saturday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium presents an interesting clash of narratives. On one sideline, you have the veteran-laden Rams, led by a quarterback and coaching staff with a Super Bowl ring. On the other, you have the upstart Panthers, a team fielding 31 players who have never taken a snap in the postseason.
The outcome of this Wild Card matchup will not just come down to scheme. It will be decided by individual matchups in critical moments. Here are the three key players from each team that will swing the momentum on Saturday.
Los Angeles Rams: The Veteran Adjustments
Davante Adams, Wide Receiver
The Rams offense gets a massive boost with the return of Davante Adams. The veteran receiver has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, but his track record suggests he is ready for the spotlight. Despite his age, Adams remains one of the league’s premier route runners and a lethal weapon in the red zone.
In the Week 13 loss, Adams was a nightmare for the Carolina secondary. He hauled in two touchdowns and proved nearly unguardable near the goal line. Matthew Stafford will likely look to re-establish this connection early. If the Panthers cannot find an answer for Adams in the low red area, the Rams offense should be able to correct the scoring droughts that plagued them in recent weeks.
Coleman Shelton, Center
Offensive line play is rarely glamorous, but Coleman Shelton holds the keys to the Rams’ survival this weekend. The Week 13 loss was largely decided in the trenches. Panthers defensive lineman Derrick Brown dominated the interior, creating havoc that culminated in a game-deciding strip-sack of Stafford late in the fourth quarter.
Shelton must play his best football of the season to neutralize Brown. The Rams interior line needs to keep the pocket clean for Stafford, who is not mobile enough to escape constant pressure up the middle. If Shelton can anchor the line and limit penetration, Stafford can pick apart the secondary. If he struggles, it could be a long day for the Los Angeles offense.
Quentin Lake, Safety
The Rams defense has dealt with inconsistency and injuries, including the absence of Emmanuel Forbes Jr. However, the return of Quentin Lake is a significant development. After missing time since mid-November with a dislocated elbow, Lake returns to the lineup fresh off signing a new three-year contract.
Lake offers versatility that the Rams desperately missed in the first matchup. He is an exceptional tackler and can line up anywhere from the box to the slot. His ability to diagnose plays and assist in the run game will be vital against a Panthers team that rushed for 164 yards in their last meeting.
Carolina Panthers: The Youth Movement
Derrick Brown, Defensive Tackle
If the Panthers are going to pull off another upset, Derrick Brown will be the reason why. Brown is the engine of the Carolina defense. During the regular season, he tallied 35 pressures and five sacks, but his impact goes beyond the box score. He demands double teams and collapses pockets, forcing quarterbacks into bad decisions.
Brown was the MVP of the Week 13 victory. He batted passes, stopped the run and forced the critical turnover that sealed the game. The Panthers need another dominant performance from their star tackle to disrupt the timing of the Rams’ high-powered aerial attack.
Bryce Young, Quarterback
This is the moment Bryce Young has been building toward. Leading a roster where 58 percent of the players have zero playoff experience, the young quarterback must remain poised. The Rams feature a ferocious pass rush duo in Jared Verse and Byron Young, who combined for 19.5 sacks this season.
Young does not need to be perfect, but he must be efficient. In Week 13, the Panthers managed the game well, leaning on a strong run game and opportunistic passing. Young needs to avoid the turnover bug that bit Stafford in the last meeting and distribute the ball to his playmakers while avoiding negative plays against the Rams’ front seven.
Jaycee Horn, Cornerback
The Panthers pass defense allowed just over 203 yards per game this season, a respectable number that will be tested by the duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Jaycee Horn is the player most capable of mitigating that damage.
Whether the Panthers ask Horn to travel with Adams or lock down one side of the field, his performance is critical. If Horn can neutralize one of the Rams’ primary weapons without safety help, it allows the rest of the defense to commit more resources to the pass rush. In a game featuring two explosive offenses, a single defensive stop or interception by Horn could be the difference between a season ending and a playoff run continuing.
