NFL insider shares several reasons Panthers-Rams will be tight matchup

First and foremost, we know the Panthers can hang with the Rams because they literally beat the Rams in Week 13 in Charlotte. That may not happen again, but at least it's a result that did happen in the NFL this season.

Because of that, there are some reasons to think the Panthers can hang tough. CBS Sports insider John Breech couldn't quite talk himself into picking Carolina to upset the Rams, but he did lay out all the reasons it's not impossible.

Breech said the Week 13 win was not a fluke. He also said, "This is arguably the ideal matchup for Young. He has struggled at times this season, but if there's one team he's going to have some confidence against, it's a team that he's already beaten."

The insider also noted that this Rams defense allows 4.3 yards per carry. Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard have been AWOL for several weeks, but this is a game they can actually make an impact on, which will work to Carolina's favor.

That slows the game down, keeps the Rams offense sidelined, and moves the ball. Breech also mentioned that history has been kind to other bad playoff teams. The ones with worse point differentials all won their first game, and the Panthers won at 7-8-1 in 2014.

He still isn't buying that the Rams are on upset watch, but he firmly believes this game will be a whole lot tighter than anyone is expecting.

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