Matthew Stafford’s 19-yard pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left saved the Los Angeles Rams in a 34-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC wild-card game Saturday in Charlotte.
Stafford was 24-for-42 for 304 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Puka Nacua, who had 111 receiving yards, scored on a reception and a score, and Harrison Mevis made two field goals for the Rams.
Bryce Young’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker near the left side of the end zone with 2:39 left gave the Panthers a 31-27 lead, but they couldn’t hold on.
The Rams will meet an opponent to be determined next weekend.
Young was 21 of 40 for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he also rushed for a touchdown. Coker finished with 134 receiving yards on seven catches for the Panthers, who were in their first playoff game in eight years,
A blocked punt by Isaiah Simmons gave the Panthers the ball in the Rams’ 30th minute with 4:12 left and trailing 27-24. Four plays later, they were in the end zone with points left.
Chuba Hubbard’s 3-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter gave the Panthers their first lead of the game at 24-20. Carolina drove 62 yards in four plays.
The Rams came right back with a 67-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard pass from Stafford to Kyren Williams. The 11-play possession included a fourth-and-1 from the Panthers’ 30.
Earlier, the Panthers came back from a 17-7 deficit to tie the game in the third quarter on Ryan Fitzgerald’s 46-yard field goal to end a 13-play streak.
Los Angeles regained the lead on Mevis’ 42-yard run later in the quarter.
The Rams dominated for much of the first half, but the Panthers held on.
Young’s 16-yard run for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the half brought Carolina to within 17-14. This happened after the Rams failed to concede after recovering a muffed punt in Panthers territory, giving the ball back on a missed fourth down from the Carolina 19-yard line.
Carolina’s three possessions in the first quarter ended with a missed fourth down, a punt and an interception by Cobie Durant.
The Rams scored first on Stafford’s 14-yard pass to Nacua. Los Angeles converted the pick-off into a 48-yard drive with a 5-yard run by Nacua near the end, taking a 14-0 lead.
–Field level media
