The opening game of the NFL playoffs is usually a bloodbath. The Los Angeles Rams were 10.5-point favorites over the Carolina Panthers coming into Saturday, and the game was much closer than anyone could have realistically expected.
Bryce Young hit Jalen Coker in the end zone to give Carolina a late four-point lead. Matthew Stafford effortlessly led a game-winning drive that was capped off by a 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson.
The pass rush came alive with roughly 30 seconds left on the clock. The Panthers went four-and-out to end regulation. Ball game. Rams won 34-31.
LA advances to the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. There are five games remaining that will decide who they face next week.
As we wait for the bracket to fall into place, let’s dive deep into this game and the individuals who helped determine the final outcome.
Winners
Puka Nacua, WR
LA’s first possession of the game easily resulted in a touchdown. Every single play went to Puka Nacua. The star receiver also scored the Rams’ second touchdown that came early in the second quarter. He dominated the start of the game, although the passing attack was much less lethal until late into the fourth.
Nacua finished with with 10 receptions on 18 targets for 111 yards and a touchdown. He also added three rushes for 14 yards on the ground. This was easily his lowest catch rate on the season, though he was working against a very talented Carolina corner duo.
Perhaps the single-most important play Nacua made on Saturday evening—and it won’t be reflected in the stat sheet—was his breakup of a potential interception late in the second half. Nacua turned an interception into an incomplete pass on third down. The Rams rushed Kyren Williams for a first down on the next play, and Williams later capped the drive with a touchdown. This was a major turning point in the game and will be remembered as a “what if?” moment on the Panthers side.
Byron Young, EDGE
Young flushed Bryce Young out of the pocket early for a sack that was finished off by Braden Fiske. The pass rush was overall consistent but not always impactful. The Rams finished with a pressure rate of 41% according to SumerSports.
But with the final outcome in the balance, Young stepped up to single handily derail Carolina’s comeback attempt. He fired off the ball on the first three plays and Bryce Young was running for his life. His throws had minimal likelihood of being completed, though the fourth down pass was dropped and would have converted a first down.
Young’s performance with the game on the long was somewhat reminiscent of how Aaron Donald used to come through in the biggest moments.
Matthew Stafford, QB – the good
There was a lot to like about Matthew Stafford’s performance. He started the game on an absolute tear and completed at least his first eight passes. It looked too easy.
Stafford hit multiple tight ends for long gains and important plays. Tyler Higbee gained 36 yards on a downfield reception. Colby Parkinson sealed the outcome with a 19-yard catch and run.
The potential league MVP finished with 304 yards and three touchdowns. He stepped up big time when the Rams needed him the most, and LA’s game-winning drive looked almost effortless. His fourth quarter was a masterclass.
Harrison Mevis, K
It felt comforting that the Rams trailed by four points and needed a touchdown to win. This took the outcome out of rookie kicker Harrison Mevis’ hands (or off his leg).
Mevis still deserves credit for his flawless effort in this game. He converted all four extra points and two field goals, with this longest coming from 46 yards out.
In a week where the Steelers watched their kicker miss an extra point to give them a two-point lead with time on the clock, Mevis did not succumb to pressure and sent the ball through the uprights. The rookie seems ready for the playoffs.
Losers
Matthew Stafford, QB – the bad
It is also completely fair to complain about Stafford’s performance in this game. Just as he has in other recent losses, Stafford went ice cold somewhere during the second quarter into the late fourth. To his credit he came alive to will his team to victory, but the Rams are significantly more talented than the Panthers and the game never should have been this close.
What went wrong? Let’s dive in.
Stafford potentially injured his hand in the second quarter while under pressure. He didn’t seem to get medical attention, though the broadcast showed him tending to his throwing fingers. How much did this affect him? We may never know unless the quarterback tells us in postgame interviews.
After starting the game eight for eight, Stafford went on a streak where he completed only four of 19 passes. There were potential dropped passes in this range, but this measure alone speaks to how the offense felt disjointed at times. There were also several notable misses.
And Stafford did not play a clean game. He threw an interception on a pass intended for Davante Adams with the Panthers within three points. The veteran also overthrew Nacua for what would have been an interception in the Panthers’ end zone if Nacua did not convert to a defensive back on the play. The Rams scored a touchdown on this drive, and it’s fair to wonder how the rest of the game could be different if the defender secured the ball.
We should be glad the Rams earned the victory. It’s also difficult to feel optimistic about their chances the rest of the way in the playoffs. Stafford wasn’t playing his best football into the postseason and he didn’t exactly start the playoffs off on the right foot either.
Davante Adams, WR
This was a frustrating performance for Davante Adams in his first game back from a hamstring injury. Adams caught just five of 13 targets for 72 yards. He and Stafford couldn’t connect on a deep shot where the veteran receiver was wide open. Adams also had his fair share of drops and lost contested catches.
The Rams offense is simply better when Adams is an efficient contributor. Too many times this season he’s caught less than 50% of his targets, and that can absolutely derail the offense considering he often receives key targets in the red zone and on late downs.
If LA is going to make a playoff run, they need better play from Adams.
Secondary – all of them
Where to start?
Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan combined for over 200 yards. The Rams struggle with bigger receivers and the Panthers have a wealth of talents over 6-3. It showed it in this game.
Cobie Durant was flagged for pass interference that gave Carolina a new set of downs. They turned the penalty into a Chubba Hubbard touchdown. Durant and Emmanuel Forbes struggled throughout the game even as the pass rush won often and the Panthers were missing two starters on the offensive line.
Kamren Curl also was beat on a touchdown by Coker, but this was an impressive throw from Bryce Young.
The Rams did not prioritize improving the secondary this past offseason. It could cost them in the postseason.
Justin Dedich, RG
Kevin Doston is LA’s best offensive lineman and it’s obviously a downgrade to backup Justin Dedich. Dedich is not on the “losers” list only because he is worse than Dotson. He was a liability in this game.
Dedich was called for holding that killed a Rams offensive possession in the fourth quarter. LA was forced to punt, and the Panthers blocked the kick. The momentum seemed to shift heavily into Carolina’s favor in this moment. Dedich started the slippery slope.
Nate Landman, MLB
Nate Landman has not played well after the mid-point of the regular season. This game was particularly rough for someone who received an extended contract from the Rams.
Landman was the lone tackler in position to bring down Bryce Young on a red zone scramble. Young shook him and easily rushed for a touchdown. You don’t want players one on one with a physical talent like Young; however, Landman looked very out of position and hesitant on the play.
The veteran linebacker also was called for a penalty for leading with his helmet along the sideline. This moved Carolina further into scoring position. They capped their drive off with the second Hubbard touchdown.
Special teams
The good news is that LA recovered a muffed punt that bounced off the returner’s facemask. Mevis made all of his kicks. Those are all the positive things I can say about the special teams unit.
The blocked punt was inexcusable, especially considering Tanner Ingle was activated over the weekend to contribute in the third phase of the game. Ingle did not block a soul on the punt attempt.
