The Los Angeles Rams (12-5) will travel to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, to take on the Carolina Panthers (8-9) in the wild-card round of the playoffs. The matchup is scheduled for 4:30 PM ET. The Rams secured their playoff berth by finishing second in the competitive NFC West, while the Panthers topped the NFC South.
As the teams prepare for this critical encounter, here are the projected starting lineups and depth charts for both squads.
Projected Starters: Rams vs. Panthers
The Rams” expected offensive starters against the Panthers include:
- QB: Matthew Stafford
- RB: Kyren Williams
- WR: Puka Nacua
- WR: Davante Adams
- WR: Konata Mumpfield
- TE: Colby Parkinson
- LT: Alaric Jackson
- LG: Steve Avila
- C: Coleman Shelton
- RG: Justin Dedich
- RT: Warren McClendon Jr.
On defense, the Rams are projected to start:
- LDE: Braden Fiske
- NT: Poona Ford
- RDE: Kobie Turner
- WLB: Byron Young
- LILB: Nate Landman
- RILB: Omar Speights
- SLB: Jared Verse
- LCB: Cobie Durant
- SS: Kam Curl
- FS: Kamren Kinchens
- RCB: Darious Williams
- NB: Quentin Lake
For special teams, the Rams will have:
- PK: Harrison Mevis
- P: Ethan Evans
- H: Ethan Evans
- PR: Xavier Smith
- KR: Blake Corum
- LS: Jake McQuaide
On the Panthers” side, their offensive starters are expected to be:
- QB: Bryce Young
- RB: Rico Dowdle
- WR: Tetairoa McMillan
- WR: Jalen Coker
- WR: Xavier Legette
- TE: Tommy Tremble
- LT: Ikem Ekwonu
- LG: Damien Lewis
- C: Cade Mays
- RG: Robert Hunt
- RT: Taylor Moton
The Panthers” defensive starters include:
- LDE: Tershawn Wharton
- NT: A”Shawn Robinson
- RDE: Derrick Brown
- WLB: Nic Scourton
- LILB: Christian Rozeboom
- RILB: Claudin Cherelus
- SLB: D.J. Wonnum
- LCB: Mike Jackson
- SS: Tre”von Moehrig
- FS: Nick Scott
- RCB: Jaycee Horn
- NB: Chau Smith-Wade
For special teams, the Panthers have:
- PK: Ryan Fitzgerald
- P: Sam Martin
- H: Sam Martin
- PR: Trevor Etienne
- KR: Trevor Etienne
- LS: JJ Jansen
Depth Charts: Key Players for Both Teams
The Rams” offensive depth chart showcases:
- QB: Matthew Stafford (2nd: Jimmy Garoppolo, 3rd: Stetson Bennett IV)
- RB: Kyren Williams (2nd: Blake Corum, 3rd: Ronnie Rivers, 4th: Jarquez Hunter)
- WR: Puka Nacua (2nd: Xavier Smith)
- WR: Davante Adams (2nd: Tutu Atwell)
- WR: Konata Mumpfield
- TE: Colby Parkinson (2nd: Tyler Higbee, 3rd: Terrance Ferguson, 4th: Davis Allen)
- LT: Alaric Jackson (2nd: D.J. Humphries, 3rd: David Quessenberry)
- LG: Steve Avila (2nd: Justin Dedich)
- C: Coleman Shelton (2nd: Beaux Limmer)
- RG: Justin Dedich (2nd: Beaux Limmer)
- RT: Warren McClendon Jr.
Meanwhile, the Rams” defensive depth chart features:
- LDE: Braden Fiske (2nd: Desjuan Johnson)
- NT: Poona Ford (2nd: Ty Hamilton)
- RDE: Kobie Turner (2nd: Tyler Davis)
- WLB: Byron Young (2nd: Josaiah Stewart)
- LILB: Nate Landman (2nd: Troy Reeder)
- RILB: Omar Speights
- SLB: Jared Verse (2nd: Nick Hampton)
- LCB: Cobie Durant (2nd: Emmanuel Forbes Jr., 3rd: Derion Kendrick)
- SS: Kam Curl (2nd: Tanner Ingle)
- FS: Kamren Kinchens (2nd: Jaylen McCollough)
- RCB: Darious Williams (2nd: Roger McCreary, 3rd: Ahkello Witherspoon)
- NB: Quentin Lake (2nd: Josh Wallace)
For the Panthers, their offensive depth includes:
- QB: Bryce Young (2nd: Andy Dalton)
- RB: Rico Dowdle (2nd: Chuba Hubbard, 3rd: Trevor Etienne)
- WR: Tetairoa McMillan (2nd: Jimmy Horn Jr.)
- WR: Jalen Coker (2nd: David Moore)
- WR: Xavier Legette (2nd: Brycen Tremayne)
- TE: Tommy Tremble (2nd: Mitchell Evans, 3rd: James Mitchell)
- LT: Ikem Ekwonu (2nd: Yosh Nijman)
- LG: Damien Lewis (2nd: Jake Curhan)
- C: Cade Mays (2nd: Austin Corbett, 3rd: Nick Samac)
- RG: Robert Hunt (2nd: Austin Corbett, 3rd: Jake Curhan)
- RT: Taylor Moton (2nd: Yosh Nijman)
The Panthers” defensive depth chart lists:
- LDE: Tershawn Wharton (2nd: Bobby Brown III)
- NT: A”Shawn Robinson (2nd: Cam Jackson)
- RDE: Derrick Brown (2nd: LaBryan Ray, 3rd: Jared Harrison-Hunte)
- WLB: Nic Scourton (2nd: Trevis Gipson)
- LILB: Christian Rozeboom (2nd: Krys Barnes, 3rd: Maema Njongmeta)
- RILB: Claudin Cherelus (2nd: Bam Martin-Scott)
- SLB: D.J. Wonnum (2nd: Princely Umanmielen, 3rd: Thomas Incoom)
- LCB: Mike Jackson (2nd: Akayleb Evans)
- SS: Tre”von Moehrig (2nd: Lathan Ransom, 3rd: D”Anthony Bell)
- FS: Nick Scott (2nd: Isaiah Simmons)
- RCB: Jaycee Horn (2nd: Robert Rochell)
- NB: Chau Smith-Wade
As the Rams look to build on their playoff success under head coach Sean McVay, who has led the team to the postseason for the third consecutive year, they will rely on the talents of Pro Bowl players like Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams. After winning three of their last five regular-season games, they aim to come out strong against a determined Panthers squad.
On the flip side, Dave Canales, head coach of the Panthers, has successfully guided his team to a playoff appearance in just his second season. Despite entering the postseason with a subpar regular-season record, the Panthers proved they can be formidable opponents, having previously defeated the Rams in Week 13.
With both teams eager to make a statement in this playoff clash, fans can look forward to an exciting game.
