> At a Glance
> – Matthew Stafford’s 19-yard TD pass with 38 seconds left lifts Rams past Panthers 34-31
> – Los Angeles blows 14-point lead before clutch final drive
> – Puka Nacua’s defensive play prevents game-sealing interception
> – Why it matters: Rams advance to NFC Divisional Round despite nearly repeating regular-season collapse
Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining, capping a wild NFC Wild Card game that saw the Rams squander a 14-point lead before escaping Charlotte with a 34-31 victory.
Fast Start, Familiar Collapse
The Rams dominated early, scoring on their opening drive when Stafford hit Puka Nacua for a 14-yard touchdown. Nacua added a five-yard rushing TD early in the second quarter to make it 14-0.
Carolina responded with Bryce Young engineering two touchdowns before halftime:
- Chuba Hubbard’s one-yard run cut the deficit to 14-7
- Young’s 16-yard scramble made it 17-14 at the break
Momentum Swings
The Panthers seized their first lead early in the fourth quarter when Hubbard scored his second touchdown, capping Stafford’s interception. The Rams appeared doomed when Nick Scott intercepted Stafford in the end zone, but Nacua ripped the ball free to keep the drive alive.
Sean McVay praised his rookie’s heads-up play:
> “That pass break up was unbelievable. He’s a freaking warrior.”
Two plays later, Kyren Williams’ 13-yard touchdown reception put Los Angeles back ahead 27-24.
Final Dramatics
Carolina retook the lead on Young’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker with 2:12 remaining. Stafford then engineered a seven-play, 71-yard drive, finding Parkinson for the winning score.
Matthew Stafford described his mindset:
> “I was pretty calm. Pretty steady. I was seeing the coverages really well.”
Davante Adams added:
> “That was MVP stuff. He told me right before that, ‘let’s go snatch their hearts out and win this game.'”
Key Takeaways
- Rams advance to NFC Divisional Round for second consecutive season
- Stafford overcomes two interceptions with clutch final drive
- Nacua’s defensive play prevents potential game-sealing turnover
- Carolina’s second-half rally falls just short of repeating regular-season upset
The victory avenges the Panthers’ regular-season upset and sends Los Angeles into the next round with momentum from their quarterback’s late-game heroics.
