Rams get late TD, escape with victory vs. Panthers

NFC WILD CARD ROUND

Colby Parkinson of the Rams catches a go-ahead 19-yard touchdown pass as the Panthers’ Tre’von Moehrig looks on with 38 seconds remaining in Saturday’s NFC wild-card game. Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

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By Steve Reed

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Rams to a dramatic 34-31 wild-card round win over the Carolina Panthers in the opening game of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.

Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards with three touchdown passes and an interception, while Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and two total touchdowns as the Rams (13-5), who were 10 1/2-point favorites, advanced to the divisional playoffs.

Bryce Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for Carolina (8-10), which finished the season losing four of its final five games. Jalen Coker had career highs with nine receptions for 134 yards with a touchdown and Chuba Hubbard ran for two touchdowns.

The Panthers fell behind 14-0 early, but stormed back to take a 24-20 lead on Hubbard’s second touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter.

Stafford led the Rams back down the field and found Kyren Williams for a 13-yard touchdown strike over the middle for a 27-24 lead.

Los Angeles appeared to be in charge after getting a stop on defense.

But a holding penalty put the Rams behind the sticks and forced a punt, which Isaiah Simmons blocked to set the Panthers up at the Rams 30.

Four plays later, Young found Coker in the left corner of the end zone for a 7-yard scoring strike to give Carolina a 31-27 lead with2:39 left.

But Stafford quickly moved the Rams 71 yards in seven plays, finishing it off with a perfectly placed pass to Parkinson near the right side of the goal line. Parkinson forced his way into the end zone for the score.

“Yeah, total team effort,” Stafford said. “Obviously had some mistakes along the way. I turned it over, we had a punt blocked, didn’t score before the half when we probably should have. So, a lot to clean up, but found a way to win it late. I believe in my teammates, I know they believe in me.”

It was nearly the second time this season the Rams lost to the Panthers as a 10 1/2-point underdog. Carolina won 31-28 on Nov. 30.