BREAKING: Rams Gets Huge Boost for Wild Card Opener; Bears-Packers Set for Frigid Showdown
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The road to Super Bowl LX starts now.
Adam Schefter broke the news early Saturday morning: The Los Angeles Rams will have their full arsenal ready. Despite missing practice twice this week, Cooper Kupp cleared final medical checks and will suit up against the Carolina Panthers. Sources tell ESPN the veteran receiver “looked explosive” in pre-game warmups, signaling a green light for head coach Sean McVay’s offense.
Rams vs. Panthers: The Speed Trap
The No. 5 seed Rams enter Bank of America Stadium as road favorites, but the No. 4 Panthers—led by their stifling defense—won’t fold easily. Quarterback Matthew Stafford needs 300 yards to pass Dan Marino on the all-time postseason passing list. With Kupp active, Stafford has his safety valve back.
Carolina’s game plan is simple: Pressure. The Panthers finished the regular season with 52 sacks (3rd in NFL). If they can force Stafford off his spot, they control the clock.
“We know what Cooper brings to the table. If he’s on the field, we have to account for him on every single snap. He changes the math.” — Ejiro Evero, Panthers Defensive Coordinator
Primetime: The Oldest Rivalry in Football
Tonight, the focus shifts North. The Green Bay Packers (No. 7) visit the Chicago Bears (No. 2) at Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for 8:00 PM ET on Prime Video.
This isn’t just a playoff game; it’s bad blood. The Bears swept the season series 2-0 for the first time in a decade, locking up the No. 2 seed behind a dominant 11-6 campaign. Green Bay scrapped their way in as the final Wild Card, but Jordan Love has thrown 10 touchdowns in his last three games.
The X-Factor: The Cold. Forecasts predict a kickoff temperature of 12°F with a wind chill below zero. This favors the ground game. Expect Chicago to lean heavily on their rushing attack, which averaged 145 yards per game in December.
What This Means for the Bracket
The stakes are brutal. A Rams victory sends them to either Detroit or Philadelphia next week. A Panthers win validates their rebuild instantly.
For the NFC North clash, the winner likely books a date with the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks or avoids them entirely depending on Sunday’s results. One thing is certain: By midnight, two teams will book their tickets to the Divisional Round, and two will be cleaning out their lockers.
