The Los Angeles Rams head to Charlotte this Saturday as heavy favorites against the Carolina Panthers. This Wild Card matchup features the biggest point spread of the weekend at 10.5 points.
The Rams want revenge after Carolina shocked them 31-28 back in November. Matthew Stafford and the top-ranked offense face a Panthers team that barely made the playoffs with an 8-9 record.
| Date | Saturday, January 10, 2026 |
| Time | 4:30 PM ET |
| Location | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC |
| TV Channel | FOX |
| Streaming | FOX One, fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV |
| Spread | Rams -10.5 |
| Over/Under | 46.5 points |
This game should tell us if Carolina’s earlier upset was a fluke or if they can compete with elite teams.
2026 NFL Playoff Wild Card Game Rams vs Panthers Preview & Analysis
The Rams finished 12-5 and earned the NFC’s fifth seed. They led the entire league in scoring at 30.1 points per game. Matthew Stafford threw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns to lead all NFL quarterbacks. Puka Nacua caught 129 passes for 1,715 yards to dominate opposing secondaries. The defense ranks eighth in points allowed at 20.4 per game. Los Angeles knows how to win in January as Super Bowl LVI champions.
Carolina won the NFC South despite going 8-9 on the season. They rank 27th in scoring with just 18.3 points per game. The Panthers averaged only 16 points over their final four games. Bryce Young threw 23 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in his second season. The defense gives up 22.4 points per game and ranks 15th overall. This marks their first playoff appearance since 2017. The home crowd will be loud for the first postseason game in Charlotte since 2015.
The statistical gap between these teams is massive. The Rams outscore opponents by 155 points this season. The Panthers finished at minus-69 in point differential. That makes Carolina the third-worst division champion by that metric since 1970. Los Angeles gains nearly 100 more yards per game than Carolina. The turnover ratio favors the Rams by 12 turnovers. Every meaningful stat points to a comfortable Rams victory.
The Rams struggled on the road this year with a 5-4 record. They lost three of their last four away games. That road weakness gives Carolina a slim chance to keep this game close. The Panthers went 5-3 at home and play much better in front of their fans. Bryce Young makes his first playoff start against a veteran quarterback with 10 postseason games under his belt. That experience gap matters in January football.
Rams vs. Panthers Prediction and Our Pick
Final Score: Rams 31, Panthers 17
The Rams will win this game by two touchdowns. Matthew Stafford won’t repeat the three turnovers that cost Los Angeles in their first meeting. The Panthers can’t run the ball consistently after managing just 19 yards in Week 18. Carolina’s offense ranks near the bottom of the league and can’t keep pace with the Rams.
Spread Pick: Rams -10.5
Los Angeles covers the spread easily. They score too many points for an 8-9 team to hang around. The Panthers need multiple turnovers and a perfect game to stay within 10 points. That won’t happen against a focused playoff team.
Over/Under Pick: Under 46.5
Take the Under on the total. Carolina scored just 16 points per game over their last four contests. Both defenses play well enough to keep the total below 47 points. The Rams control the clock and don’t need to score 40 points to win comfortably.
Most experts agree with this assessment. Computer models give the Rams over 65% chance to cover the spread. Vegas oddsmakers set this line high for good reason. About 62% of spread bets favor the Rams. That number jumps to 78% on the moneyline.
Also Check: 2026 NFL Wild Card Predictions
Rams vs Panthers Head to Head
Carolina leads the all-time series 13-10. The Panthers hold a 7-5 advantage in games played at home. These teams last met in the playoffs on January 10, 2004. The Panthers won that game 29-23 in double overtime. Steve Smith caught the game-winning touchdown on the famous X-Clown play. Carolina went on to Super Bowl XXXVIII that season. This year’s game falls on the same date 22 years later.
The Week 13 meeting shocked everyone. Carolina entered as 10-point underdogs at home. The Panthers dominated the turnover battle 3-0. Nick Scott picked off Stafford in the end zone. Mike Jackson returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown. Derrick Brown sealed the win with a strip-sack late in the fourth quarter. Bryce Young went 2-for-2 on fourth down with touchdown passes. The Panthers rushed for 164 yards to control the clock. They held the ball for over 32 minutes.
| Week 13 Key Stats | Panthers | Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 31 | 28 |
| Total Yards | 370 | 409 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Rushing Yards | 164 | 98 |
| Time of Possession | 32:15 | 27:45 |
That game won’t repeat itself. Stafford throws just eight interceptions all season. He takes care of the ball better than almost any quarterback in football. The Rams learned their lesson about ball security. Carolina hasn’t rushed for over 100 yards since that November game. They managed only 19 rushing yards against Tampa Bay in Week 18. The running game disappeared when it mattered most.
Los Angeles Rams History & Stats
The Rams rank first in total offense at 394.6 yards per game. They lead the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns. Matthew Stafford completed 67% of his passes for the best accuracy of his career. Puka Nacua set a new record for most receptions by any player this season. Cooper Kupp provides a veteran presence in the slot. The offensive line protects Stafford well and opens holes in the run game.
Kyren Williams rushed for over 1,100 yards as the primary back. The Rams convert 64% of their red zone trips into touchdowns. That ranks fifth in the league. Sean McVay schemes receivers open and keeps defenses guessing. The offense scores quickly and efficiently. They finished drives with points more than any team this year.
The defense allowed 20.4 points per game to rank eighth overall. The run defense stands out as elite at just 96.8 yards allowed per game. Aaron Donald anchors the defensive line even at age 33. The pass rush generated 41 sacks this season. The secondary gives up yards but forces turnovers at key moments. Los Angeles finished plus-eight in turnover ratio.
The Rams won Super Bowl LVI two seasons ago. Sean McVay knows how to prepare teams for January. He earned his 100th career victory in Week 18. The franchise has deep playoff experience. Stafford proved himself in that Super Bowl run. He threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns in the championship game. That experience matters against a young Panthers squad.
Carolina Panthers History & Stats
The Panthers barely made the playoffs at 8-9. They won the NFC South through a three-way tiebreaker. Atlanta needed to beat New Orleans in Week 18 just for Carolina to get in. The Panthers lost their final game 16-14 to Tampa Bay. They didn’t control their own playoff destiny on the final weekend.
Bryce Young improved in his second season. He threw for 3,011 yards with a 63.6% completion rate. The young quarterback led 12 game-winning drives since entering the league. That ties for the most in football over that span. Young makes plays when the game is on the line. He converted two fourth downs with touchdown passes against the Rams in November.
Rico Dowdle rushed for 1,076 yards to lead the backfield. The Panthers need him healthy to have any chance Saturday. Chuba Hubbard provides depth but lacks the same explosiveness. The receiving corps features no true number-one option. Tetairoa McMillan leads the team but doesn’t scare defensive coordinators.
The defense ranks 15th in points allowed. Derrick Brown disrupts opposing offenses from his defensive tackle spot. He recorded 73 tackles and five sacks this year. Jaycee Horn emerged as a top-tier cornerback with five interceptions. The pass rush managed just 30 sacks all season. That ranks 25th in the league. The Panthers can’t pressure quarterbacks consistently.
Carolina ended an eight-year playoff drought. The franchise last made the postseason in 2017. This marks their first home playoff game since 2015. The fanbase is excited just to be playing meaningful football in January. Nobody expects them to win. That takes pressure off a young team.
Rams vs. Panthers Injury Reports
| Los Angeles Rams | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davante Adams | WR | Shoulder | Questionable |
| Tyler Higbee | TE | Ankle | Probable |
| Kevin Dotson | OL | Knee | Questionable |
Adams practiced on a limited basis all week. He caught six passes for 89 yards in Week 18. The Rams expect him to play Saturday. Tyler Higbee returned from an ankle injury last week. He gives Stafford another reliable target over the middle. Kevin Dotson’s knee injury could keep him out. The offensive line has depth to replace him. The Rams enter the playoffs relatively healthy. No major injuries will impact their game plan.
| Carolina Panthers | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaycee Horn | CB | Ankle | Probable |
| Rico Dowdle | RB | Ankle | Questionable |
Jaycee Horn is probable despite an ankle injury. The cornerback needs to be on the field to slow down Puka Nacua. Horn has the size and speed to compete with elite receivers. His health is critical to Carolina’s defensive strategy.
Rico Dowdle’s ankle injury is the biggest concern. He is officially questionable for Saturday. The Panthers managed only 19 rushing yards without him in Week 18. Dowdle provides the entire ground game for this offense. Chuba Hubbard can’t replicate his production. Carolina must have Dowdle on the field to control the clock and shorten the game.
Rams vs. Panthers Key Player to Watch
Matthew Stafford will decide this game. The 37-year-old quarterback is playing some of the best football of his career. His 46 touchdown passes led the entire NFL. Stafford threw just eight interceptions all season. That ratio shows remarkable ball security. He won’t gift the Panthers points like he did in November. The Super Bowl champion knows what it takes to win in January. Stafford’s deep ball accuracy stresses defenses vertically. He connects with Puka Nacua for explosive plays that change field position. The Rams win by three touchdowns if Stafford plays clean football. He avoids pressure and makes quick decisions. Bryce Young can’t match that level of quarterback play in his playoff debut.
Bryce Young faces his biggest test as a professional. The 24-year-old makes his first career playoff start. Young has shown clutch ability with 12 game-winning drives. He can make all the throws and stays calm under pressure. The Panthers need him to be perfect. Young must avoid turnovers and convert on third down. He thrives when the run game keeps defenses honest. The Rams will dare him to beat them through the air. Young’s ability to handle that pressure determines if Carolina stays competitive. He threw three touchdowns against this defense in November. That performance gives him confidence. The playoff atmosphere is different than regular season games. Young needs to prove he belongs on this stage.
Rico Dowdle is the true X-factor. The running back gives Carolina their only path to an upset. Dowdle rushed for 164 yards in the first meeting. He controlled the clock and kept Stafford on the sideline. The Panthers can’t throw their way to 30 points against anyone. They need a strong ground game to shorten this contest. Dowdle’s health will be a game-time decision. He managed just 19 yards on limited touches in Week 18. That performance came after the ankle injury surfaced. A healthy Dowdle changes the complexion of this matchup. He forces the Rams to respect the run and opens up play-action for Young. The Panthers lose by 20 points if Dowdle can’t play or runs ineffectively.
The Rams are too talented and experienced for Carolina. Los Angeles wins 31-17 and covers the 10.5-point spread. Matthew Stafford won’t make the same mistakes twice. Take the Rams and the Under with confidence.
