The Los Angeles Rams are looking to get their season back on track against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6 and face a three-point deficit heading into halftime. They have managed to hold Carolina to just three points on offense and took the lead on a pretty pass from Matthew Stafford to Allen Robinson in the second quarter before a pick-six put them back down by three.
Buy Rams TicketsThis crucial game will come down to the Rams’ ability to score points in the second half. If they can’t make something happen on offense, they will drop to two games below .500 heading into the meat of their 2022 schedule.
Here are our key takeaways from the team’s first-half effort against the Panthers in Week 6:
Running game remains slow, but Sean McVay continues feeding his backs
The Rams have shown a balanced offensive attack so far, but haven’t had much success on the ground. Darrell Henderson has been the team’s leading rusher with 28 yards on six carries, but his efforts haven’t been enough to get Los Angeles any points. Malcolm Brown took matters into his own hands in the second quarter to gain 13 yards on three carries to make himself the second-leading rusher, but again, hasn’t scored.
Wide receiver Tutu Atwell had an impressive nine-yard carry that put him in third place, but outside of that, the team has yet to see any major production on the ground. If they want to ensure that Matthew Stafford isn’t forced to run a one-dimensional game with minimal protection when he throws from the pocket, the Rams will need to generate more yardage with their rushing attack.
Christian McCaffrey is eating the Rams' defense alive
McCaffrey is one of the most electric running backs in the NFL and has shown his exceptional abilities against the Rams in the first half of this matchup. He has a combined 95 yards between his eight carries and four receptions and has proven to be the Panthers’ most effective option on every play. Los Angeles doesn’t have anyone to match up with him one on one and will need to find a way to contain him in the second half.
If they don’t, expect him to catch fire and build Carolina’s lead.
Rams are losing the penalty matchup, will need to clean up in second half
Penalties haven’t been the most impactful factor in the Rams’ effort to this point, but Carolina is playing a more disciplined game, which is reflected in the halftime score. Los Angeles has conceded 40 yards on four penalties compared to the Panthers, who have only been flagged twice for 15 yards. It will not bode well for their comeback effort if they continue losing this key battle in the game, and without more of an effort to play fundamentally sound, Los Angeles will find themselves even farther behind in their 2022 campaign.
