The Carolina Panthers won't have Tre'von Moehrig or Jaycee Horn against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Carolina Panthers face the best team in the NFC this week, the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford could win the MVP Award this season and he will likely put up stellar numbers against the Panthers, who will be without Tre'von Moehrig and Jaycee Horn.
However, Carolina head coach Dave Canales is confident in his team despite the depleted defense.
"I trust these guys to get it done," Canales said. "And they had a great week of preparation. I mean, opportunities. This is something that, you know, Lathan has really been working on for a while now and so if you had a chance to be out there with Nick Scott communicating with him, Demani's been really a part of what we're doing. He's into it. He's ready to rock as well."
The Panthers give up 22.4 points per game while the Rams average 27.8 points per contest.
Carolina's scout team, led by Mike White, impersonated Stafford and Co. in practice. It helped Canales and his defense get ready for the Rams.
"How they break the huddle, how they get up to the line, the shifts and motions all have to be really crisp, and our guys did a great job all across the board for a couple of days," Canales said. "Really appreciative of our scout team, making that come to life because we have to be ready for that pace."
This is a huge game for the Panthers, who are 6-6. They are still in the playoff race.
It's also going to be an emotional game, as Canales grew up a Rams fan.
"I was a Rams fan back in the day, and so you kind of have to pick," Canales said. "You're in LA. Are you going to be a Raiders fan or a Rams fan? I was a Rams fan at the time. That was Jim Everett, and that whole crew. So I remember them leaving and I remember just being so pissed.
"At the time, Dan Marino was my favorite player. So once the Rams left LA, I was like, all right, well I think I'm a Dolphins fan now because I've always followed Dan. And so there was a little back and forth. But to get the Rams back in LA meant a lot for the community and all the people that were still rocking their Rams stuff for my whole childhood."