Los Angeles @ Carolina preview
Bank of America Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 6, 2016 ) Carolina 13, Los Angeles 10
The Los Angeles Rams begin their quest for a third consecutive NFC West title - and a second straight trip to the Super Bowl - when they open on the road against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. The Panthers hope to get back to the playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons after missing out last year.
It’s a matchup of two of the NFL’s top rushing attacks as star running back Todd Gurley helped the Rams rank third in the league in rushing a year ago, while quarterback Cam Newton and versatile back Christian McCaffrey gave the Panthers the No. 4 ground game. Gurley should be fresh - like most of the Rams’ starters - as he didn’t play a snap in the preseason and will be seeing his first live game action Sunday. Carolina might consider that strategy next season after Newton suffered a sprained foot during the preseason that threatened to keep him out of the opener. The Panthers have won the past two meetings, including a 16-13 road victory in the most recent clash in 2016.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Los Angeles -1.5. O/U: 50
ABOUT THE RAMS (2018: 13-3, FIRST IN NFC WEST): Los Angeles boasts one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses as Jared Goff emerged as an elite quarterback in 2018, passing for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns to complement Gurley. Goff is surrounded by a talented receiving corps led by Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks, a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in 2018. Veterans Clay Matthews and Eric Weddle were added to a defense anchored by back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who led the league in sacks (20.5) and tackles for loss (25) last season.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (2018: 7-9, THIRD IN AFC SOUTH): The fate of Carolina’s season likely rests on the health of Newton, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason. If he is able to play to his full potential, the Panthers have plenty of talent around him to put up big offensive numbers, including McCaffrey and young receivers D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. The defense will have a new look, featuring more 3-4 lineups, but veteran linebacker Luke Kuechly is still the centerpiece after collecting at least 100 tackles in seven straight seasons.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Carolina has won two straight season openers and four of its last five.
2. Gurley leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage (6,430), rushing yards (4,547) and touchdowns (56) since he entered the league in 2015.
3. Rams CB Marcus Peters has 22 interceptions since 2015, the most in the NFL over that stretch.
PREDICTION: Rams 27, Panthers 20