Stafford's Late TD Lifts Rams to 34-31 Wild-Card Win
Matthew Stafford's 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left gave the Los Angeles Rams a 34-31 wild-card win over the Carolina Panthers Saturday.
Overview
Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining, finishing 24-of-42 for 304 yards, three TDs and an interception.
Puka Nacua caught 10 passes for 111 yards, scored two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing), and helped sustain the Rams' early 14-0 lead.
Carolina rallied from a 14-0 deficit, with Bryce Young throwing for 264 yards and running for a touchdown; Jalen Coker had nine catches for 134 yards.
A blocked Rams punt by Isaiah Simmons set up a late Carolina touchdown, but the Rams responded with a 71-yard, seven-play drive to retake the lead.
Los Angeles advances to the NFC divisional round; Rams must fix special teams and third-down issues despite the win to contend further in the playoffs.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this game recap neutrally, emphasizing factual play-by-play, statistics, and key quotes. Reporting prioritizes chronological events, team and player stats, and direct statements (e.g., Stafford) without partisan adjectives. Occasional color words like “dramatic” are descriptive, not evaluative framing, and viewpoints are not selectively omitted.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Based on NFC playoff seeding, the Rams will face the highest remaining seed they are eligible to play, which is typically either the No. 1 seed if they are the lowest remaining seed or the next-highest seed remaining if lower-seeded teams also advance.
With the Rams, Matthew Stafford has led multiple playoff runs, including their Super Bowl LVI title; in the 2021 postseason he threw for over 1,100 yards with 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions across four games, earning his first championship.
Bryce Young’s early NFL seasons have been marked by development on a struggling Panthers team, with modest passing production and efficiency as Carolina rebuilt its offense around him.
The blocked punt that helped Carolina take a late lead and the Rams’ inconsistency on third down highlight vulnerabilities that can swing close playoff games, making it harder to sustain drives and control field position against stronger divisional-round opponents.
Puka Nacua has emerged as a primary target in the Rams’ passing game, setting rookie receiving records and consistently leading the team in catches and yards, making him a central piece of their offensive identity.
History
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