(Photo: Clutchpoints)
NFC Wild Card
(5) Los Angeles Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers
Rams (12-5):
What a season it’s been. At one point during the regular season, they had one of the longest winning streaks in the NFL. I remember a time when many people—including myself—were referring to them not only as the best team in the league, but the most complete. And it made sense. Unfortunately, every team hits a bump in the road, and the Rams did just that by losing three of their final five games. When I watch them, I feel like they stall at times—and when teams do that, it eventually catches up to them. By “stall,” I mean they seem to get settled in and a bit complacent after building a big lead, playing too loosely for my liking. When you think you can just coast, it usually comes back to bite you. My concern is that this shouldn’t be happening to a team that’s as well coached as the Rams. At one point, we thought the Rams would be NFC West champions for the second consecutive year, earning a bye and not playing until the Divisional Round. Instead, here they are. There was a time I viewed them as the team to beat in the NFC—but look how things have changed. The regular season is over, and now the real season begins. On Saturday afternoon, they’ll head to Charlotte for a rematch to kick off Super Wild Card Weekend.
Panthers (8-9):
Despite the Week 18 loss, it ended up being a win-win situation in the end. Let’s recap the NFC South scenarios once again. If the Buccaneers won (which they did), they needed the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons for Tampa Bay to claim the division. The Saints lost in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon, resulting in a three-way tie atop the NFC South with identical 8–9 records. The tiebreakers favored Dave Canales and his team, and for the first time in a decade, the Carolina Panthers are NFC South champions. The last time this happened, they finished 15–1, Cam Newton won league MVP, Luke Kuechly was still an active player, and they were one of the most fun teams in football. I really like Bryce Young, and he truly grew up before our very eyes this season as he continues to develop into a franchise quarterback. The organization has shown belief in him by investing and building around him. If you want your quarterback to succeed, put him in a position to do so—and the rest will follow. The future is bright for this team, and they’ll continue to build and add to the roster. They’ve done it the right way, and I tip my cap to them. The Panthers will welcome Matthew Stafford and the Rams to town on Saturday afternoon to kick off the playoffs.
Rams X-Factor: Quentin Lake
This is a big-time reinforcement returning for a strong Rams defense. Quentin Lake is the most versatile defensive player on the roster—capable of playing deep safety, lining up in the box, and covering tight ends and slot receivers. His flexibility is huge against a Carolina offense that moves pieces around and attacks from multiple angles. Quentin will help the Rams disguise coverages pre-snap, hoping to bait Bryce Young into mistakes. He consistently shows up with timely pass breakups and strong tackles in space. He may not fill up the stat sheet like an edge rusher, but his impact speaks volumes.
Panthers X-Factor: Derrick Brown
I followed Derrick Brown closely during his college days at Auburn, and I’ve enjoyed watching him grow into the player he is today. Playoff games are often decided in the trenches, and Derrick is exactly the type of player who can tilt that battle. He consistently controls the line of scrimmage with power, and if he can dominate inside and disrupt the Rams’ run game, it could force them into long-yardage situations. Derrick can also generate interior pressure, and as I mentioned last week, pressure up the middle can throw off Matthew Stafford’s timing and rhythm.
Final Thoughts:
Let’s go back to Week 13 of the regular season. The Rams entered that game in Charlotte riding a six-game winning streak. I remember saying on the radio beforehand that it felt like a trap game. Matthew Stafford hadn’t thrown an interception in what felt like forever—yet he threw two in that game alone. My biggest takeaway was that every time the Rams scored, the Panthers matched them with equal intensity. That effort snapped the Rams’ winning streak and resulted in a big win for Carolina. Fast forward to now, and these two teams will kick off Super Wild Card Weekend. The Rams are expected to get a major offensive reinforcement back in Davante Adams. Their first order of business is neutralizing Derrick Brown—using quick passes, bubble screens, and double teams to limit his impact. Next, they must make the Panthers one-dimensional by shutting down the run and forcing passing situations. Finally, controlling the tempo by mixing run and pass will keep Carolina from settling in. For the Panthers, getting pressure on Stafford is critical. They can’t allow him to get comfortable in the pocket. Protecting the football is a must—no giveaways, especially in their own territory. The final key is limiting the Rams’ explosive plays. Playoff football is here, and I’m more than ready for it.
