HARLOTTE, N.C. -- The cold rain, the inconsistency over the past 12 weeks, being a 10.5 point underdog to arguably the best team in the NFC at home on a short week after a Monday night loss in San Francisco, mounting injuries, none of that mattered to the Carolina Panthers after Sunday's improbable 31-28 victory over the Los Angeles Rams .

Players recognized they made a huge statement for a young team trying to end seven consecutive years of losing and not being a late-season factor for the playoffs.

"That we can play with the best of them," running back Rico Dowdle said of what the win over the now 9-3 Rams meant. "We came in facing what they say is the top NFC team. When we went into Green Bay [and won 16-13] it was the same thing.

"We've got everything we need in this locker

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