Panthers visit Rams in meeting of struggling teams

LOS ANGELES (AP) CAROLINA (2-5) vs. LOS ANGELES (3-4)

Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, Fox

OPENING LINE - Panthers by 2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Carolina 2-5, Los Angeles 3-3-1

SERIES RECORD - Panthers lead 12-8

LAST MEETING - Panthers beat Rams 30-15, Oct. 20, 2013

LAST WEEK - Panthers beat Cardinals 30-20; Rams had bye, lost to Giants 17-10 on Oct. 23

AP PRO32 RANKING - Panthers No. 23, Rams No. 26

PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (7), RUSH (5), PASS (9).

PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (20), RUSH (3), PASS (30).

RAMS OFFENSE - OVERALL (30), RUSH (29), PASS (25).

RAMS DEFENSE - OVERALL (11), RUSH (15), PASS (12).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Carolina makes its first trip to Hollywood. Panthers entered NFL in 1995, few months after Rams and Raiders simultaneously left nation's second-largest city. ... Coaches Jeff Fisher and Ron Rivera were teammates on 1980s Chicago Bears. ... Teams met in divisional playoff game during 2003 season. Carolina beat Mike Martz's 12-4 St. Louis team in double overtime. Rams haven't had winning season since. ... Panthers averaging sturdy 27.3 points per game, while Rams are 30th in NFL with 17.1. ... ... Panthers' 30-20 win over Cardinals last week snapped four-game skid. They try to win back-to-back games for first time in defending NFC champions' season. ... Panthers' stout run defense being betrayed by weak pass defense yielding 286.9 yards per game. ... Carolina QB Cam Newton spoke with Commissioner Roger Goodell about concerns over big hits this season. Newton feels he isn't being protected. ... 2015 All-Pro DT Aaron Donald says Rams won't change how they play after Newton's concerns went public. ... Rams come off bye week with three-game losing streak. ... Rams finally get third real home game of relocation season. They've played at Coliseum just once since mid-September season opener. ... Rams went 41-20-1 at Coliseum during November when they played downtown prior to 1979. ... Rams struggling in passing game yet again with just 227.7 yards per game, despite showing signs of improvement from last season. Still aren't ready to play No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff. ... Fantasy Tip: Panthers had 12 sacks in first six games, but sacked Carson Palmer eight times last week. Rams QB Case Keenum has been sacked 16 times in seven games.

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