NFL expert doesn't hesitate to rub salt in Rams wound after loss to Panthers

If you are going to take a shot at the 9-3 Los Angeles Rams, now is as good a time as any to do so. Despite winning six of their last seven games, and five against NFL playoff contenders, the team's mistake-riddled Week 13 effort resulted in an upset loss to the now 7-6 Carolina Panthers. Despite some heroics and some struggles, LA came up short.

And it didn't take long for vultures to pick at LA's bones, even as five winnable games remain on the schedule. And yet, former NFL quarterback Cam Newton is all about talking up the Panthers and tossing shade at the Rams. Are the Chicago Bears the team to beat in the NFC?

For now, yes, they are. But it's hard to envision the Bears carving out five more wins from the remaining five teams on their schedule. They must face the 8-3-1 Green Bay Packers twice, the 7-5 Detroit Lions, the 9-4 San Francisco 49ers, and the 3-9 Cleveland Browns. The Bears will be hard-pressed to win three of their remaining five games.

Why a Week 13 loss could be a blessing in disguise for Rams

Upsets happen frequently in the NFL, and so far, 2025 appears to be far ahead on that trend. While the Carolina Panthers were clearly motivated to win in Week 13, how long can they sustain the desperation born from win or go home? Los Angeles has forged that into their DNA in each of the past three seasons.

So, here we go again. The juggernaut darling team of the NFL is getting its comeuppance. The latent desire to toss shade at Los Angeles has been unleashed like water from a dam before heavy rains are expected. And yet, the team is not panicking. If anything, it's just becoming a bit more focused and a lot more angry.

LA has lost just three times this season, to the Philadelphia Eagles, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Carolina Panthers. But if you track social media, fans of the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and even Philadelphia Eagles are all proclaiming that they are the team to beat.

Nobody is naming Los Angeles as a team to beat in 2025, and yet only three teams have done so. Many playoff-bound teams have already fallen to LA. But let's keep that secret to ourselves for now. The season is winding down. It's time for the Rams to shine.

As always, thanks for reading.