Having a short week was probably a blessing for the Carolina Panthers. Head coach Dave Canales and his players didn't have time to dwell on their disastrous prime-time defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, but they are still in the NFC South championship race with everything in front of them.
Whether they can bounce back against the Los Angeles Rams is another matter. Sean McVay's team is riding on the crest of a wave right now. They are among the Super Bowl favorites, and with good reason. It won't be easy, but the Panthers can play with an extra sense of freedom with all the pressure on the opposition.