The Carolina Panthers made the first trip to Los Angeles in franchise history and celebrated the occasion by surviving a horribly boring and ugly all-around game by both teams. Jeff Fisher and the eventual 7-9 Rams managed to somehow be worse offensively than the Panthers were. Credit both defenses, but neither offense looked very adept today.
First Quarter
The Panthers won the toss and elected to defer, as usual. The Rams took over and were able to get into range for a field goal try, but K Greg Zuerlein was wide right. The Panthers got the ball and soon punted. And then the Rams took over and soon punted.
Then the Panthers got the ball and...wait, no, they actually moved the ball well. Cam and company started at their own 47-yard line and were able to make it to paydirt. Cam eventually found TE Greg Olsen over the middle on third and goal for the touchdown. The Rams took over after the score and soon punted. Carolina would take over and send the game into the second quarter with a 7-0 lead.
Second Quarter
The Panthers did not do much on their drive and soon punted. Shocker, I know. The Rams then got one first down(!) then immediately stalled, so they punted. Then the Panthers had a three and out, so they punted. Then the Rams moved the ball slightly, then punted again.
The Panthers got the ball back and...yeah, another three and out and another punt. Then the Rams took over and punted. I’m pretty sure both punters needed new, mechanical legs in the locker room at halftime. Finally the Panthers moved the ball into field goal range and K Graham Gano was able to extend the lead — wait, no, he missed wide right as well. It was one of those games. The Rams moved the ball into field goal range right before the end of the half and Zuerlein missed again. Seriously. At the half, the Panthers led 7-0.
Third Quarter
Starting the second half with the ball, the Panthers came out of the gates and moved the ball well. Then DT Aaron Donald devoured Cam Newton, pushing the Panthers out of field goal range and the Panthers had to trot out P Andy Lee once again. The Rams punted again after a three and out. Not to be outdone, the Panthers also punted again.
The Rams took over again and this time they did not punt. QB Case Keenum was actually intercepted by LB Thomas Davis. It was a great, athletic play by TD. The Panthers ensuing drive would finish off the third quarter with the Panthers still winning 7-0.
Fourth Quarter
The offense actually did not punt this drive and K Graham Gano was able to split the uprights and extend the lead, for real this time. The Rams offense also woke up a little at this point and they drove down the field. Their drive eventually stalled and Zuerlein nailed a short field goal.
From there, the Panthers were again able to move into Gano’s range for a chance at a field goal. Graham was Ganolden on this try and the Panthers led by two scores. It was late in the game at this point and the Rams were moving the ball against the Panthers’ defense. They could have done a better job at clock management, but on fourth down from the 10-yard line Keenum found WR Kenny Britt for the touchdown with only 38 seconds left. The Rams tried a weird, pretend-to-not-know-what’s-going-on-and-then-pull-a-fast-one onside kick that worked about as well as you would expect. Ted Ginn recovered the ball without much trouble and the Panthers knelt out the rest of the clock. Final score from LA was a 13-10 Panther win.
Overall
Yikes. That was...something. The defense played great, albeit against the Rams. The Rams defense is fantastic. The Rams are the one team you do not want to play when two of your starting offensive lineman injured. Aaron Donald is a monster, along with the rest of that defensive line. Jonathan Stewart had no room to run for most of the day and Cam got hit quite a bit (mostly clean hits, surprisingly enough). That game was painful to watch, but the Panthers won a must-win game on the road. On to the next one! (Hosting the Chiefs next Sunday)