Rams eager to get WR Davante Adams back for wild-card game against Panthers after a 3-game absence
Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Carolina (8-9)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. EST, Fox.
Against the spread: Rams 11-6; Panthers 10-7.
Series record: Panthers lead 14-10.
Last meeting: Panthers beat the Rams 31-28 on Nov. 30, 2025, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Last week: Rams beat Cardinals 37-20; Panthers lost to Buccaneers 16-14.
Rams offense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (1), scoring (1).
Rams defense: overall (17), rush (12), pass (19), scoring (10).
Panthers offense: overall (27), rush (19), pass (16), scoring (27).
Panthers defense: overall (16), rush (20), pass (15), scoring (15)
Turnover differential: Rams plus-11; Panthers minus-2.
WR Davante Adams is set to return after missing the last three games of the regular season because of a hamstring injury. Despite the time missed, Adams still led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions, but his absence was felt in losses to Seattle and Atlanta down the stretch, especially in the red zone, and ultimately cost the Rams a chance at the NFC West title and the No. 1 overall seed. Adams had four catches for 58 yards and two scores against the Panthers in a 31-28 loss in Week 13. His presence should prevent Carolina’s secondary from focusing entirely on Puka Nacua.
RB Rico Dowdle. He was held to 10 yards rushing last week by Tampa Bay and hasn't surpassed 60 yards rushing in the past eight games after carrying the Panthers offense earlier this season. Carolina effectively ran the ball in the previous meeting with the Rams — 40 carries for 164 yards — which in turn allowed QB Bryce Young to be efficient in the passing game. Young finished 15 of 20 for 206 yards with three touchdown passes and had a 147.1 QB rating, the second best in franchise history, in one of his best games as a pro.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford vs. Panthers secondary. Stafford entered the Week 13 matchup with Carolina having thrown for 18 touchdown passes in the previous five games. But after leading a touchdown drive on the Rams' opening possession, Stafford was intercepted on back-to-back drives and finished with three turnovers. That was against the Carolina defense missing four defensive starters, including top cornerback Jaycee Horn. All four will be back in the lineup for the Panthers on Saturday.
Rams: In addition to getting Adams back, Los Angeles will also have top DB Quentin Lake available following a seven-game absence because of an elbow injury. … RG Kevin Dotson will miss his third straight game with an ankle injury, hampering the Rams' ground game. … Rookie TE Terrance Ferguson pulled his hamstring in practice ahead of the regular-season finale against the Cardinals, putting his availability in question. … RT Rob Havenstein (ankle/knee) remains week-to-week and is unlikely to come off injured reserve before Saturday.
Panthers: Carolina comes in healthy and the biggest injury question this week is if G Robert Hunt will be activated from injured reserve and start. Hunt, the highest-paid offensive lineman in team history and largely considered the team's best run blocker, has been out since Week 2 with a torn triceps. He's been practicing for a couple of weeks and said he feels ready to go. However, the decision will be up to the coaching and medical staffs on whether to put Hunt back in the starting lineup in such a big game given he hasn't played in so long and could be rusty. There is also the risk of Hunt reinjuring the triceps, and they don't want to lose him for next season.
This is the second playoff game between the Panthers and Rams. Carolina won 29-23 in St. Louis on Jan. 10, 2004, in an NFC divisional game en route to the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance. The Panthers won the game in dramatic fashion on the first play of double overtime on a play called “X Clown” when WR Steve Smith hauled in a pass over the middle from QB Jake Delhomme and turned it into a game-ending 69-yard touchdown reception.
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