Sweet Caroline! LA Rams offense is peaking at right time for Panthers rematch

The fifth-seeded Los Angeles Rams must travel to face the fourth-seeded Carolina Panthers on the road for Round 1. This game is a rematch of Week 13, a game that the mistake-marred visiting team lost by a mere three points. While the first game went to the Panthers, the rematch promises to be a different game altogether.

While that loss hurt LA in many ways, the team did get a badly-needed wakeup call. Adversity, as head coach Sean McVay pointed out in his post-game presser, forges a group of players into a team. Now, that re-forged team is readying for a rematch.

And the offense is one of the most dangerous in the history of the NFL. Seriously, it is the first offense in NFL history to put up 4,500 net passing yards, 2,000 rushing yards, and 15 or fewer turnovers.

While the offense is running in playoff mode, opposing defenses are facing an impossible dilemma. Postseason defenses plot to take away the most dangerous weapon on the offense. But with the LA offense, there are six to eight other players who can put up 100 yards and score touchdowns. Good luck stopping that.

Rams won't be fooled a second time around

When these two teams clashed in Week 13, Los Angeles had peaked with a record of 9-2. That triggered over-the-top accolades and praise that seemed to deflate the team on the road. After all, LA had just won its sixth consecutive game by dismantling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 34-7.

The Horns won't be caught flat-footed this time. In that Week 13 contest, the Panthers executed a nearly flawless game plan that kept their offense on the football field. And when LA's offense took over, they were opportunistic enough to force three turnovers.

Los Angeles did not manage a single turnover in the game.

The Panthers rushed 40 times and passed just 20 times. It was an offensive strategy designed to stall LA's high-octane offensive engine, and it did exactly that. But it would have failed miserably without the help of three ill-timed turnovers. And thus, luck was on their side.

The Yellow and Blue abandoned a brutally effective running attack in the game. And if nothing else, that failure to adjust has focused head coach Sean McVay on this game. He views this game as a form of vindication, and that may be wise to do so.

The LA Rams can win this one. But like any playoff game, they can't allow any distractions or false sense of superiority to distract them. This is a winnable game. But even as the offense peaks, it will need plenty of help from the defense and special teams.

As always, thanks for reading.