Week 9 GameScout: Panthers at Rams

Sep 21, 2017 - 7:48 PM Carolina Panthers (2-5) at Los Angeles Rams (3-4)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles. TV: FOX, Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver.

SERIES HISTORY: 21st regular-season meeting. Panthers lead series, 11-8. Carolina has won five of the past six meetings, including a 29-23 double-overtime win at St. Louis in the 2003 playoffs.

GAMEDATE: 11/6/16

KEYS TO THE GAME: Nothing really changes for the Rams relative to game plans, this week included. They need to establish a running game with Todd Gurley, take some chances downfield with play-action pass, avoid too many penalties and turnovers and then put the game in the hands of their defense. The trick is putting all those components together over a 60-minute game rather than in spurts as they have done all season.

The Rams' 30th-ranked offense doesn't do anything all that well, but they do have the 2015 Rookie of the Year, RB Todd Gurley. The problem for Los Angeles is teams load the box since they aren't scared of QB Case Keenum. Gurley's 134 carries are the eighth-most in the league, but his 57.6 rushing yards per game ranks 26th. While the Panthers have one of the NFL's weakest secondaries, Keenum doesn't pose much of a threat. So the defense's focus will be on shutting down Gurley, something the NFL's third-best rush defense should be able to do.

The Rams have one of the league's best front sevens, but that hasn't translated into many sacks this season. Their 10 sacks tie the Saints at No. 29. DT Aaron Donald and DE Robert Quinn are more than capable of wreaking all sorts of havoc, though. The Panthers need to keep them off QB Cam Newton, who had a talk with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this week about officials better protecting him from illegal hits. If he has time, Newton should be able to do some damage against a middle-of-the-pack pass defense, which will also open up room for RB Jonathan Stewart to impose his will on the ground.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Panthers C Ryan Kalil vs. Rams DT Aaron Donald. Kalil suffered a sprained shoulder in Week 8 and his status for Sunday is up in the air, but there's a good chance the L.A. native will find a way to play in his homecoming. He will have his hands full with Donald, who leads the NFL with 19 quarterback hurries.

--Rams WR Tavon Austin vs. Panthers CB Leonard Johnson. Austin leads Los Angeles with 36 receptions. In his first game since offseason Achilles surgery, Johnson provided the Panthers with a big spark in the slot while playing his most snaps since 2013.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Rams WR Pharoh Cooper. Slowly but surely Cooper is working his way into better health and the opportunity to be a factor in the Rams' passing game. The rookie from South Carolina began the season with a shoulder injury, but he is completely healthy now, and the Rams are incorporating him more into the offense during practice. This could be the week they give him a legitimate chance to make some plays with his dynamic athletic ability in the slot.

FAST FACTS: Panthers QB Cam Newton has 14 passing TDs and three interceptions in his past six road games. He completed 15 of 17 passes and threw for a TD in the last meeting. ... Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart rushed for 95 yards and two scores in Week 8, the second straight week he ran for two touchdowns. ... Carolina DT Star Lotulelei had a career-high three sacks last week as the Panthers notched eight. ... Rams RB Todd Gurley has scored four TDs in the past five home games. ... Rams DT Aaron Donald has three sacks and a forced fumble in the past four games. Since 2014, he leads NFL DTs with 23 sacks.

INJURY REPORT: Carolina -- Out: DT Vernon Butler (ankle), T Michael Oher (concussion), LB Shaq Thompson (knee). Questionable: DE Mario Addison (groin), C Ryan Kalil (shoulder), LB Luke Kuechly (groin), CB Daryl Worley (elbow). Los Angeles -- Out: WR Nelson Spruce (calf). Questionable: DT Michael Brockers (groin), G Jamon Brown (hand), DE William Hayes (ankle), CB Trumaine Johnson (ankle).

PREDICTION: The Panthers finally don't have to contend with a high-flying offense on the road. After losing shootouts in Atlanta and New Orleans over the last month, Newton and crew should be able to follow up their win over Arizona with another victory against an NFC West foe.

OUR PICK: Panthers, 24-16.

--Chris Cluff