This is going to be one of the most exciting football games this Sunday because it will be a shootout.  The Panthers will likely try to run the football with DeAngelo Williams and DeShaun Foster to control the clock and keep the football away from the Rams’ offense.  That will be easier said than done.  The middle of the Rams defense will be pretty decent with DTs La’Roi Glover and rookie Adam Carriker teamed up with MLB Will Witherspoon who is one of the most underrated players in the NFL.  With that in mind look for the Panthers to run sweeps and veers to try to get outside the tackle box.  The key for the Panthers passing game will be the matchup between RT Jordan Gross vs. DE Leonard Little of the Rams.  Little is an elite pass rusher and Jake Delhomme tends to makes mistakes when he hears footsteps behind him.  Still, if Gross can handle Little, Delhomme should have plenty of time to attack a weak Rams secondary.  WR Steve Smith should have a field day against the Rams as 2nd year man Tye Hill will get the job of running with him.  The other WRs (Drew Carter, Dwayne Jarrett and Keary Colbert) are all young and talented so that could cause matchup problems for the Rams defense. 

Everyone knows about the Rams offense.  It’s amazing that the Panthers shut them out 15-0 last season.  Still, the Rams have even more weapons on offense this season.  They will lean more to the pass but won’t forget the running game.  RB Steven Jackson is one of the best offensive football players in the entire NFL.  DTs Kris Jenkins and Maake Kemoeatu must keep MLB Dan Morgan clean to chase Jackson around the football field.  That might be easier said than done against the Rams nasty boys in the middle of the offensive line.  C Andy McCollum, LG Mark Stetterstrom and RG Richie Incognito of the Rams are the kind of guys you want on your side in a fight so look for them to give Jackson some running lanes against the Panthers’ defense.  Young OLBs Jon Beason and Thomas Davis must keep Jackson contained on outside runs and out of the backfield in the passing game and that’s quite a lot of responsibility.  The matchups to really watch in this game will be LE Julius Peppers vs. RT Alex Barron and RE Mike Rucker vs. LT Orlando Pace.  If the Panthers win these matchups they will be able to give the secondary the help they will need to contain the WRs of the Rams.  If the Rams win those matchups they will score as many points as they want on Sunday.  WRs Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennett will put a ton of pressure on CBs Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble.  Also, look for QB Marc Bulger to throw the ball a few times to TE Randy McMichael who is a huge matchup problem for the Panthers’ safeties as the Panthers will start Chris Harris and Deke Cooper.

The special teams also might be a big factor in this football game.  The Panthers must contain KR/PR Dante Hall of the Rams because if the Rams have short fields to work with the Panthers will be in deep, deep trouble.  Also, K Jeff Wilkins is one of the best kickers in the NFL teamed up with a stellar offense.

PREDICTION:  The Rams will get revenge on the Panthers for last year’s shutout.  Look for the Rams to win and this football game to go way over the total of 42.5 points.