The Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers will meet in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs from Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Carolina took an unorthodox path to the NFC South title and the playoffs, while the Rams look to advance as the top-seeded Wild Card team in the NFC. Here, I take a closer look at this matchup in the NFC and give you my Rams vs Panthers prediction in the Wild Card round.
Our Rams vs Panthers Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 4/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers
- Date & Time: Saturday, January 10, 2025, 4:30 PM ET
- Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Broadcast: FOX
Rams vs Panthers Odds
| Odds | Line |
|---|---|
| Spread | Rams -10 |
| Moneyline | Rams -600, Panthers +440 |
| Total | 46.5 points |
Key Storylines
This NFC Wild Card rematch features the Rams riding into Charlotte after a successful 12-5 season, where they clinched the NFC’s fifth seed. But the Rams lost to the Panthers in their first meeting this season, with Los Angeles’ defense struggling to get stops in that contest. The passing game of the Rams is nothing short of elite, but a poor showing from the Rams on defense against the Panthers this time could end their season.
The Panthers are in the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons thanks to a division title despite having an 8-9 record in the regular season. Carolina lost their Week 18 game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which temporarily put the Bucs ahead of the Panthers. But the Falcons’ win over the Saints on Sunday gave the Panthers the division title via a three-team tiebreaker. Carolina’s 31-28 regular-season win over Los Angeles showed they can compete with this opponent, but that performance may be the outlier as the Rams get their win back in the playoffs.
Quarterback Play
The Rams rely on veteran Matthew Stafford, who has been effective throughout the season, including his performance in Week 18 that helped secure the fifth seed. The MVP candidate threw for 259 yards against the Cardinals in that contest. Stafford’s leadership and playoff experience give Los Angeles a distinct advantage.
Carolina’s Bryce Young remains a dynamic playmaker capable of explosive plays, but inconsistency and a lack of experience in pressure moments could cause Carolina problems here. Young’s experience in the regular-season win over the Rams suggests he can handle this defense specifically, but things can change wildly from one game to the next in the NFL.
Betting Trends
- The Rams went 12-5 against the spread during the regular season.
- Carolina is 10-7 against the spread entering Wild Card weekend.
- The Rams have gone over the total in 10 of their 17 games in the regular season.
- The under has cashed in 10 of Carolina’s 17 games.

