The Los Angeles Rams beat the Carolina Panthers on Wild Card Weekend by a score of 34-31. This was a tight contest as both teams had moments of great play, and stretches of mistakes. Neither team was exactly able to put the other away, but it was the Rams who found a way in this one.
The Rams started hot with a 14-0 lead, and it was looking like L.A. had a chance to run away with this one, but due to their own self-inflicted mistakes, and credit the Panthers for making some great plays, the Rams basically let Carolina hang around.
The Panthers had two turnovers in the first half, but L.A. only led 17-14 at the half, meaning they really didn’t take advantage of those errors the way they probably should have.
There were penalties, Puka Nacua dropped what likely would’ve been a touchdown right before halftime, they looked off on third down throughout the day and overall, it wasn’t the tightest performance by the Rams. It was one of their lesser performances of the year, really.
Matthew Stafford may have hurt his hand in this one, and he may not admit it, but it probably effected his throwing as Stafford started hot, but turned a bit cold in the second half.
L.A. was trailing 24-20 in the fourth quarter, but Stafford hit Kyren Williams for a go-ahead score to make the game 27-24 after the extra point.
The Rams had a chance to more or less put the game away after they had the ball back and led by three points, but instead they punted, and when Carolina blocked that punt and were immediately in scoring range, it looked like the Rams were going to be sent home instead of advancing in the playoffs.
Then when Bryce Young hit Jalen Coker to take a 31-27 lead after the extra point with under 3-minutes to go, it really looked like L.A. wouldn’t find a way to win this one, despite being heavy favorites.
The pressure was heavy, and it was on the Rams.
But Stafford did what Stafford did most of his career when he found Colby Parkinson with 38-seconds to go in regulation, and L.A. took a 34-31 lead after the extra point.
The pressure was back on Carolina.
The Rams defense forced a four and out on Carolina, and as the announcers said: The Rams survived.
It was a stressful game, but it ended with a Rams win, and for Sean Mcvay and his team, that’s what mattered today.
Now, they’ll rest up and prepare to move on.
Not a bad start to the Wild Card weekend if you are the Rams and or a fan.
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