Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Rams in Week 13

The Carolina Panthers are inching closer to their latest bye week since 2001. But to get to their long-awaited break, they'll have to first go through their toughest test in 2025—the Los Angeles Rams.

Head coach Sean McVay and company will head into Bank of America Stadium atop the NFC at 9-2. And that record isn't Hollywood smoke and mirrors, folks—they're that good.

But what will Sunday's script ultimately look like for the underdog Panthers?

Here are the top storylines heading into this Week 13 showdown . . .

Identifying the offense

Last week's offensive showing for the Panthers was not only disappointing, but it was also quite puzzling. Despite their past success on the ground, head coach and play-caller Dave Canales dialed up only nine runs in the team's 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

That approach left starting running back Rico Dowdle rather irked, as evidenced by the squiggly-eyed emoji he posted to Twitter/X the next morning. Canales, when asked about the tweet later that Tuesday, didn't seem very delighted.

Since then, however, the hatchets seemed to have been buried. Canales took accountability for abandoning the run while Dowdle got his frustrations off his chest.

Now, Canales has to discover an effective formula for his inconsistent offense.

Can he revive the rushing game with a healthy dose of Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard or will he overcorrect and leave the unit one-dimensional? And can he still spark quarterback Bryce Young, two weeks removed from his 448-yard passing performance?

Where and what is the balance?

A 37-year-old MVP?

Conversely, the Rams have no identity issues on their offense.

The group has been led by 37-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford—who, in his 17th NFL season, has put together a career campaign. He's passed for 2,830 yards, a league-leading 30 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Defending against Stafford (and running back Kyren Williams and wideouts Puka Nacua and Davante Adams) will be particularly difficult for the Panthers. Although their defense is trending upwards in 2025, they'll be without a handful of key contributors—including inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom, cornerback Jaycee Horn and safety Tre'von Moherig.

Can defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, like he did on Monday night, rally his troops and give his team's offense a chance to upend a powerful NFC West opponent?

Another shot at glory

Sure, the Panthers aren't exactly in a great spot here in Week 13. But it's not like they haven't been there before.

They faced a daunting task in Week 9, when they met with the (at the time) NFC-leading Packers at Lambeau Field. Their slim odds at victory, however, didn't stop them from stepping up—as they pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the entire season.

At 6-6, the Panthers may not have much room left for error if they hope to snap their franchise-record playoff drought. So there's no doubt that another shocker—this time against the Rams—could go a long way for those postseason aspirations.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers vs. Rams 2025: Biggest storylines for Week 13