Dawgs By Nature
The Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs kicks off today at 4:30 PM ET as the Los Angeles Rams take on the Carolina Panthers. The game will air on Channel 8.1, your FOX affiliate, with the action being called by Joe Davis and Greg Olsen.
The Rams were in the toughest division in football this year, the NFC West, which is represented by the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks, themselves, and the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams were oh-so-close to obtaining the top seed in the NFC a few weeks ago, in the Game of the Year against Seattle. The Rams were up 30-14 before Seattle came clawing back with two touchdowns and two-point conversions. And then, in overtime, Los Angeles became the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown in the period and lose, as Seattle went for two and got it after their touchdown.
It had to be a rather deflating feeling for the Rams, now knowing they are unlikely to have a home game this postseason. At least they get to take on the perceived worst team in the playoffs in the Panthers, right? Carolina was 2-15 in 2023, 5-12 last year, and then won the NFC South with an 8-9 record this year, backing in during the final week when they lost to the Buccaneers and an unrelated game helped them get in.
Carolina lost three of their final four games, but they’ve played some close games this year as a gritty team. They have victories over the Packers and these very same Rams (from Week 13), but were blown out by the Jaguars, Patriots, Seahawks, and Bills. Despite the Week 13 upset (31-28 score over the Rams), I expect Los Angeles to come out sharp and smother the Panthers to show they aren’t deserving of a playoff team just yet. Rams 28, Panthers 13.
What do you think, Browns fans? Use this as your open thread to discuss the game.
