LOS ANGELES
The smog cleared around the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon, but the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams offenses never came out of the haze.
On a day when the defenses dominated, the Panthers (3-5) squeaked out a 13-10 victory.
Carolina scored their only touchdown in the first quarter, on a 9-yard bullet down the seam from quarterback Cam Newton to tight end Greg Olsen. From there it was all field goals – both missed and made – for both teams until the final minute.
The first half was filled with almost.
Rams quarterback Case Keenum overthrew Brian Quick on a wide-open route that would have been a touchdown if not for sailing past the receiver’s fingertips, and Los Angeles settled for another punt.