The Los Angeles Rams are making the trip out East to face the Carolina Panthers, who ended the year 8-9, but won the NFC South, for the first round of the NFL playoffs.
Across many NFL circles, whether it's experts, fans, or media, the Rams are viewed as the favorites. But it's not such a simple game, especially after the Rams lost to the Panthers earlier in the year.
Fortunately, the Rams have one playcall they can turn to with Davante Adams that can give them a massive advantage over the Panthers. As Sarah Bishop of ESPN notes, the Rams have one play that can defeat the Panthers' biggest strength on defense.
How Rams can use Davante Adams to beat Panthers
"The Rams have missed him the most in the red zone," Bishop writes, "as nine of his league-leading 14 receiving touchdowns have come in goal-to-go situations. According to ESPN Research, the Panthers have allowed only five passing touchdowns in goal-to-go situations this season, which is tied for the fewest in the NFL."
The Panthers have one of the best defensive units in the NFL when it comes to allowing passing touchdowns in goal-to-go situations.
If a team gets inside the 10-yard line, the Panthers typically don't allow a passing touchdown. While they can give up rushing touchdowns to Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in this matchup, they cannot rest easy in the passing game.
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Adams and Matthew Stafford have a remarkable connection on goal-to-go opportunities this season, which has seen the duo connect on nine touchdowns this season in such situations.
That's a ridiculous amount of touchdowns for Adams and Stafford. Up against the defense that's the best at stopping such a play, the Rams will need the duo to step up against the top competition in the NFL at the play they're best at.
One playcall might be the deciding factor in this game, and it could be a goal-line fade, slant, or choice route to Adams inside the Panthers' 10-yard line.
There isn't a more interesting playcall versus defense matchup in the playoffs. Adams and Stafford's stellar goal-to-go connection against the Panthers stout goal-to-go passing defense could be the biggest determining factor for who wins in this Wild Card matchup.
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