Dave Canales took a lot of heat after the Carolina Panthers got embarrassed on prime time against the San Francisco 49ers. But the head coach managed to get the last laugh on his critics by masterminding a stunning triumph for his team over the Los Angeles Rams.
The Panthers looked like a different team. Despite missing cornerback Jaycee Horn, linebacker Christian Rozeboom, and safety Tre'von Moehrig due to injury and suspension, the defense still forced three crucial turnovers. This also allowed the offense to set the tone with a run-first mentality that dictated the tempo.