Matthew Stafford’s 19-yard pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining saved the Los Angeles Rams in a 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers in Saturday’s NFC Wildcard game in Charlotte.
Stafford was 24-for-42 for 304 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Puka Nacua, who had 111 receiving yards, scored on a reception and a run, and Harrison Mewis kicked two field goals for the Rams.
Bryce Young’s seven-yard pass to Jalen Coker near the left side of the end zone with 2:39 remaining 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 for 40 for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and also rushed for a TD. Coker finished with 134 yards on seven catches for the Panthers, who were in their first playoff appearance in eight years,
A blocked penalty by Isaiah Simmons gave the Panthers the ball at the Rams’ 30 with 4:12 remaining and trailing 27-24. Four plays later, they were in the end zone with go-ahead points.
Shuba Hubbard’s three-yard run in the first minute of the fourth quarter gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, 24-20. Carolina covered 62 yards in four plays.
The Rams came right back with a 67-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard Stafford pass to Kyren Williams. The 11-play possession included a fourth-and-1 pick 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 drive.
Los Angeles got back ahead on a 42-yard touchdown run from Mevis later in the quarter.
The Rams dominated most of the first half, but the Panthers held on.
Young’s 16-yard scramble for a TD with 37 seconds left in the half allowed Carolina to pull within 17-14. That came after the Rams failed to capitalize on a muffed penalty in Panthers territory, giving the ball back on a botched fourth down from Carolina’s 19-yard line.
Carolina’s three possessions in the first quarter ended in a failed play on fourth down, a penalty, and a Kobe Durant interception.
The Rams scored first on Stafford’s 14-yard pass to Nacua. Los Angeles turned the kickoff into a 48-yard scoring drive with a 5-yard run by Nacua on the end, building a 14-0 lead.