The reigning NFC Champion Rams will face their first test of the new season on the road against the Carolina Panthers. The Rams lost, 13-3, in Superbowl LIII to the Patriots, but will look to bounce back. Sunday’s contest will mark a matchup between two elite quarterbacks in Jared Goff and Cam Newton. The Panthers have won five of the last six meetings.
Rams vs Panthers
- When: Sunday, September 8
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FOX
- Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)
The big news this week out of Rams camp was Goff signing a four-year extension to remain with the team through 2024. However, a huge question on offense remains the health of running back Todd Gurley and how productive he can be. Gurley rushed for more than 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons and scored a league-high 21 touchdowns in 2018 — even as he nursed a sore knee that sidelined his the final two weeks of the season. The Rams took a conservative approach with Gurley throughout training camp, limiting him to an every-other-day practice schedule.
The defense has improved with the additions of Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews, who will provide significant help to Aaron Donald. This unit will have to be prepared for Cam Newton, who took full reps during Monday’s practice and has been making steady progress. Newton sprained his foot near the end of the first quarter during the preseason game vs. Patriots on Aug. 22.
The Panthers star quarterback has dealt with many injuries over the last few years, but he has still thrown for over 3,000 yards in each of his eight seasons. He missed the final two games last year and still threw for 3,395 yards (completing 67.9 percent of his passes) with 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The three-time Pro Bowler is 2-0 in his career against the Rams.
The other player to watch for the Panthers is running back Christian McCaffrey. Along with his 1,098 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 219 carries, McCaffrey also set the record for single-season receptions for running backs with 107, to go along with 867 yards and six touchdowns in the air.
Rookie outside linebacker Brian Burns, who was drafted 16th overall should provide a much needed presence. The team also signed veteran defensive end Bruce Irvin, who has dealt with hamstring issues during the preseason, but he should still be ready for Sunday.
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