Perhaps this is simply all about the Rams.
You would have trouble winning a debate that does not contend the Los Angeles Rams are the best team in the National Football League. Evidence on your side would include the best record in football with nine wins in eleven decisions, the highest points for and against number with a plus 127 and an offense triggered by Matthew Stafford, who currently ranks first among the leaders for Most Valuable Player.
In the last two months, the Rams handed the Indianapolis Colts their first loss of the season, held the Baltimore Ravens to a field goal while scoring a two touchdown victory margin, beat the Jacksonville Jaguars by four touchdowns and scored lopsided wins over the New Orleans Saints, and in a revenge game against the San Francisco 49ers. All this was followed by a narrow triumph in the battle for first place in the NFC West over the Seattle Seahawks before displaying their talents last Sunday night in a primetime win over another division leader, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 34-7.
Their seven wins in the last eight weeks followed a gut-wrenching loss in Philadelphia against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. In that game, against the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Rams burst to a 26-7 third quarter lead, then allowed the Eagles to comeback to take a 27-26 edge with time for only one more play. That was time for Joshua Karty to attempt a 44-yard field goal that would have overcome the Eagles comeback and got the Rams their third straight win to open the 2025 season.
Instead of winning the game on the kick, the Rams lost the game when the field goal attempt was blocked by Jordan Davis and he took it to the house for a touchdown that advanced the Eagles winning margin to seven points, 33-26. That was the toughest loss of the season for the bettors who had the Rams plus the 3½ points on the spread.
Instead of allowing that loss to derail their chances for a great season, Los Angeles and Head Coach Sean McVay have won seven of their most recent eight games and covered the expanding point spreads in six of those eight contests.
Sold on the Rams yet?
On Sunday, they meet the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. The home team has an interesting season in the making too. The Panthers met the San Francisco 49ers last Monday Night at Levi’s Stadium and with a win they would have taken over sole possession of first place in the NFC South Division.
The Panthers alone in first place?
Can that be?
We didn’t think so either, that was one of the reasons why we had the 49ers over Carolina in last Monday’s game. But now, the upstart Panthers are in a much more familiar position, needing to win while trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their division race.
Four weeks ago, the Panthers upset the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field and followed that triumph with what usually happens to a team inexperienced at winning and coming off an upset victory, they got beat by an inferior team. The Panthers followed their win over the Packers with a loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The loss found them bouncing back with a road win over the Atlanta Falcons, which set them up for last week’s loss in San Francisco.
Now they return home, apparently overmatched by perhaps the best team in football, and coming off their missed chance to grab first place with a … here it comes … an upset win over the Rams.
Los Angeles has just played too well for too long against much better competition to think they would be focused on this game. It is one of those contests where the better team thinks they can just toss their helmets on the field and collect a win 60 minutes of game clock later.
If the Rams do win, it won’t come easy … and in all likelihood not by double-digits.
Qoxhi Picks: Carolina Panthers (+10) over Los Angeles Rams