NFL Playoffs

CAROLINA (12-5)

at ST. LOUIS (12-4)

When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m., Channel 11.

Line: Rams by 7.

Story line: Carolina is coming off an impressive victory over Dallas last week, in which Stephen Davis rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown. Now the Panthers hit the road to face the speedy Rams, who averaged 33.6 points inside the Edward Jones Dome during the regular season.

Key matchups: St. Louis’ Robert Thomas vs. Carolina’s Davis: If Thomas misses too many tackles or gets blocked from his middle linebacker position, Davis will have a huge game. Carolina’s Ricky Manning and Reggie Howard vs. St. Louis’ Torry Holt: The Panthers’ two starting cornerbacks will get their share of opportunities to defend Holt, who led the Rams with 117 catches for 1,696 yards and 12 touchdowns. St. Louis’ Kyle Turley vs. Carolina’s Julius Peppers: Playing right tackle, Turley has to keep pass-rushing Peppers from disrupting Ram quarterback Marc Bulger.

When the Panthers have the ball: Everything starts with Davis, who rushed for 1,444 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards a carry in the regular season. Quarterback Jake Delhomme played as if he were a playoff veteran against Dallas. Look for him to again try to complete big-play passes to receivers Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad. The key for Carolina will be staying out of third-and-long situations.

When the Rams have the ball: It’s funny how running back Marshall Faulk has become somewhat of the forgotten man in this year’s playoffs. Faulk is healthy and still good enough to win a game by himself. Bulger plays well at home but also has a history of throwing interceptions. Look for the Rams to start off passing and then turn to their ground attack later in the game. .

Injuries: CAROLINA -- questionable: TE Marco Battaglia (quadriceps), S Jarrod Cooper (hamstring). ST. LOUIS -- probable: LB Robert Thomas (groin).

HOW THEY MATCH UP

*--* Car. CATEGORY St.L. 20.3 (15) Points 27.9 (2) 19.0 (10) Points allowed 20.5 (17) 190.4 (18) Passing offense 247.6 (3) 130.9 (7) Rushing offense 100.4 (27) 321.3 (16) Total offense 341.1 (9) 187.7 (9) Passing defense 192.0 (12) 107.6 (11) Rushing defense 123.8 (21) 295.3 (16) Total defense 315.8 (16) 31 (20) Turnovers 39 (32)

*--*

Note: League rank in parentheses

Bottom line: The Panther offense has to take care of the ball and keep Faulk & Co. off the field, because the Rams have too many weapons not to score a lot of points. Expect St. Louis to advance.