The Rams and Panthers came down to an electric fourth quarter that had four lead changes.
The NFL Playoffs delivered in the drama department in the first game of the Wild Card weekend slate. The No. 5 Los Angeles Rams survived a back-and-forth contest at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday against the No. 4 Carolina Panthers, with the Rams escaping with a 34-31 victory. The fourth quarter had four lead changes and saw Los Angeles quarterback Matt Stafford lead his fourth career game-winning drive in the playoffs.
The Rams got out to a comfortable lead early but couldn’t quite put the game away on the road against the Panthers. Los Angeles led 17-14 at halftime, controlling most of the tempo of the first half. Carolina came roaring back out of half, taking advantage of a Stafford interception to take the lead in the fourth and go up 24-20. The Rams answered with an 11-play touchdown drive. Both teams would exchange another touchdown in the fourth, with Los Angeles sealing the win with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cody Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining in the contest.
Here is the full story from Rams Roundtable writer James Brizuela on the narrow victory that sends Los Angeles to the divisional round.
It was a game that showed that each side is vulnerable, and Los Angeles barely escaped. But Stafford showed why he’s clutch in the postseason, completing 24-of-42 attempts for 304 yards and three touchdowns to one interception. The Rams will now see where their weaknesses showed on tape and watch the rest of the weekend play out as they will advance now to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.