The Rams currently hold the top seed for the NFC playoffs. Now their greatest challenge might be shutting out the distraction of being deemed a favorite to win the Super Bowl.
“Humility is only a day away,” coach Sean McVay said. “Our guys understand that.”
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On Sunday the Rams will play a potential trap game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers are 6-6 and coming off a 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Panthers are the Rams’ third NFC South opponent. The Rams already dispatched the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They play the struggling Falcons on Dec. 29 in Atlanta.
The Rams are 10-point favorites over the Panthers — and with good reason.
They have won six games in a row and scored at least 34 points in four of their last five games, including their 34-7 victory over the Buccaneers last Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
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The Panthers feature quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick in the 2023 draft. Young has passed for 15 touchdowns with nine interceptions for a team that counts victories over the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys among its wins.
Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and outside linebackers coach AC Carter are former Rams assistants. The roster includes seven former Rams: defensive linemen Bobby Brown III and A’Shawn Robinson, offensive lineman Austin Corbett, cornerbacks Robert Rochell and David Long, linebacker Christian Rozeboom and safety Nick Scott.
Key injuries
Rams: S Kamren Kinchens (shoulder, questionable but expected to play), DL Poona Ford (calf, questionable but expected to play), OL David Quessenberry (groin, questionable but expected to play)
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Panthers: LB Claudin Cherelus (concussion, out), CB Jaycee Horn ( concussion, out), C Cade Mays (ankle, out), LB Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring, out), OL Chandler Zavala (calf, out)
How to watch Rams vs. Panthers
The Rams (9-2) travel to Charlotte, N.C., to play the Panthers (6-6) at 10 a.m. Sunday. The game will be shown on Fox throughout Southern California and will be available nationally via a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. In Southern California, fans can listen to the game on 710 AM, 93.1 FM and 1330 AM (Español).
Betting odds and lines for Rams vs. Panthers
Who will win Rams vs. Panthers?
Gary Klein’s pick: The Rams are rolling and the Panthers will not be able to slow them down. Byron Young, Jared Verse and the Rams’ pass rush will continue to force turnovers and Matthew Stafford will continue to avoid them.
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Rams 27, Panthers 17
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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