Rams Fall Short in Carolina: A Missed Opportunity Rooted in Abandoned Ground Game
The Los Angeles Rams walked into Week 13 with a 9-3 record and a clear path to double-digit wins. But after a frustrating three-point loss to the Carolina Panthers, the mood around this team is anything but celebratory.
This was a game the Rams had every reason to win - and every tool to do so. But somewhere between the opening drive and the final whistle, the game plan veered off course.
And it never quite corrected.
Let’s be clear: the Rams didn’t lose because they lacked talent. They lost because they leaned too heavily on the arm of Matthew Stafford and didn’t trust what was working - a ground game that was chewing up yards and time at will.
A Fast Start That May Have Been Too Easy
The Rams came out firing. After a short field set them up at the Panthers' 35-yard line, they needed just six plays to find the end zone.
Five of those were passes. The lone run went for four yards.
It was a quick, efficient drive that took less than three minutes and gave L.A. an early 7-0 lead.
But here’s where things started to tilt. That opening drive may have worked too well.
The ease of the score seemed to convince the coaching staff that the Panthers’ secondary could be picked apart all afternoon. Instead of leaning into a rushing attack that was clearly effective, the Rams doubled down on the pass - and paid for it.
The Turnovers That Shifted Momentum
On the second drive, the Rams mixed in a bit more balance. A 13-yard run was followed by a couple of completions, and then another solid run. But the drive ended with a costly red-zone interception - picked off by a familiar face in former Rams safety Nick Scott.
Still, the Rams didn’t blink. They came out on the next possession and continued to move the ball.
The run game was still producing - 13 more yards on the ground to start things off. But once again, the pass took over, and once again, it backfired.
Another interception, this time a pick-six, flipped the scoreboard and the momentum.
At that point, the Rams had two turnovers in the passing game, while averaging over seven and a half yards per carry on the ground. That’s not just efficient - it’s dominant. And yet, the rushing attack remained a supporting character in a game where it should have been the star.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Let’s look at the raw output: 20 rushes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. That’s 7.65 yards per carry.
That’s not just good - that’s game-controlling production. Meanwhile, the Panthers ran the ball 35 times for 141 yards.
Less efficient, but more committed. And that commitment paid off.
The Panthers knew what they needed to do: keep the ball out of Stafford’s hands and force the Rams to win through the air against a defense that was ready for it. And when Stafford did drop back, Carolina brought pressure, disguised coverages, and forced errors. The Rams never adjusted.
Even in the game’s most critical moments - late drives, red zone opportunities - the Rams opted for the pass. One such sequence ended in a penalty and a strip sack. Another ended with time slipping away and the ground game still sitting on the sideline.
What Could Have Been
This one stings because it didn’t have to go this way. The Rams had a formula that worked.
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum were chewing up yardage and keeping the Panthers’ defense honest. The offensive line was opening holes.
The clock was moving. The Panthers were on their heels.
But instead of sticking with what was working, the Rams gambled on the pass. And while that bet has paid off plenty of times this season, it didn’t in Week 13.
Carolina’s secondary was ready. Their pass rush was relentless.
And their game plan - run the ball, control the tempo, protect the football - was executed to near perfection.
Final Thoughts
This loss doesn’t derail the Rams’ season, but it should serve as a wake-up call. Sometimes, the simplest approach is the smartest.
When your backs are averaging nearly eight yards a carry, you don’t need to get fancy. You just need to keep feeding them.
The Rams are still a dangerous team. Stafford is still one of the most reliable quarterbacks in the league. But this game was a reminder that even the best arms need help - and sometimes, that help is standing right behind them in the backfield.
Week 13 was winnable. The Rams just didn’t play to their strengths.