In one of the most lopsided-looking matchups of the playoffs this year, the Los Angeles Rams will take on the Carolina Panthers to open the Wild Card round. But thanks to the strength, or lack thereof, of the NFC South, the Panthers have a valuable home-field advantage in the game.
Following a shocking upset the last time these two teams met, the Rams will be looking to set the record straight. However, neither team is entering the playoffs fully healthy. Fortunately for both teams, none of their key players, including Davante Adams and Tetairoa McMillan, will be sidelined, as they are ready for the playoffs.
Here are the players on the inactive list and the ones who will be starting for this Wild Card round matchup.
Inactive List for Rams and Panthers
Here are the confirmed inactives for today’s game:
Los Angeles Rams
- TE Terrance Ferguson
- OL Kevin Dotson
- CB Josh Wallace
- CB Derion Kendrick
- CB Darious Williams
- WR Jordan Whittington
- QB Stetson Bennett
Carolina Panthers
- LB Krys Barnes
- C Nick Samac
- DT Jared Harrison-Hunte
- WR David Moore
- DE LaBryan Ray
Starting Lineup for Rams vs. Panthers
Los Angeles Rams
- QB Matthew Stafford
- RB Kyren Williams
- WR1 Davante Adams
- WR2 Puka Nacua
- WR3 Tutu Atwell
- TE Tyler Higbee
- LT Alaric Jackson
- LG Steve Avila
- C Coleman Shelton
- RG Justin Dedich
- RT Warren McClendon Jr.
Defense:
- NT Poona Ford
- DT Kobie Turner
- DE Braden Fiske
- LOLB Byron Young
- ROLB Jared Verse
- LILB Nate Landman
- RILB Omar Speights
- LCB Cobie Durant
- RCB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
- FS Jaylen McCollough
- SS Kam Curl
Special Teams:
- LS Jake McQuaide
- H Ethan Evans
- K-FG Harrison Mevis
- K-KO Harrison Mevis
- P Ethan Evans
- KR Xavier Smith
- PR Xavier Smith
A late-season sputter made what looked like the best team in the league by a mile fall apart and finish as the fifth seed. But they still have a chance to solidify a Wild Card spot against a vastly inferior opponent in Carolina.
However, the last time these two teams faced each other, potential MVP Matthew Stafford had maybe the worst game of his season. According to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, the Rams star finished the regular season as the sixth-ranked quarterback in the league.
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Stafford will be trying to rectify his mistake from earlier in the season, as the Rams prepare for a potentially deep playoff run and their second Super Bowl of the decade.
Carolina Panthers
- QB Bryce Young
- RB Rico Dowdle
- WR Tetairoa McMillan
- WR Xavier Legette
- WR Jalen Coker
- TE Tommy Tremble
- LT Ikem Ekwonu
- LG Damien Lewis
- C Cade Mays
- RG Robert Hunt
- RT Taylor Moton
Defense:
- RDE Tershawn Wharton
- NT A’Shawn Robinson
- LDE Derrick Brown
- LOLB Nic Scourton
- RILB Christian Rozeboom
- LILB Claudin Cherelus
- ROLB D.J. Wonnum
- LCB Mike Jackson
- SS Tre’von Moehrig
- FS Nick Scott
- RCB Jaycee Horn
Special Teams:
- PK Ryan Fitzgerald
- P, H Sam Martin
- PR, KR Trevor Etienne
- LS JJ Jansen
The Panthers feel like the least impressive team in the bracket, and with a sub .500 record, it is hard to argue against that distinction. Losing a gotta-have-it Week 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not help matters, but they lucked into a playoff spot thanks to an Atlanta Falcons’ victory over the New Orleans Saints.
But this is a team that has already beaten LA at its best, so they will have the mental edge in that regard. Add in a rabid home crowd, and there is a pathway for the Panthers to pull off an almighty upset.
