Lead
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Jan. 10, 2026 the Los Angeles Rams rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Carolina Panthers 34-31 in an emotional wild-card matchup at Bank of America Stadium. Matthew Stafford, the 37-year-old All-Pro, orchestrated a 71-yard, late-game drive and threw a 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining to clinch the win. Puka Nacua finished with 10 catches for 111 yards and two total touchdowns, while Stafford completed 24 of 42 for 304 yards with three TDs and one interception. The victory advances the Rams (13-5) to the divisional round; the Panthers (8-10) exit the postseason after their first playoff appearance since 2017.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Rams 34, Panthers 31 — Rams advance to the divisional round.
- Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns and one interception and was named All-Pro earlier the same day.
- Puka Nacua had a team-high 10 receptions for 111 yards and accounted for two total touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing).
- Bryce Young threw for 264 yards and one TD and added a rushing touchdown; Jalen Coker posted career highs with nine catches for 134 yards and a TD.
- Key swing: Isaiah Simmons blocked a Rams punt late in the game, setting Carolina up at the L.A. 30 and leading to a 7-yard TD to Coker with 2:39 left.
- Stafford engineered a 71-yard drive in the final 2:38, completing 6 of 7 passes and delivering the 19-yard scoring strike to Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining.
- The Panthers had beaten the Rams 31-28 at the same stadium six weeks earlier; this was Carolina’s first playoff game since 2017.
Background
The Rams entered the 2025 season as one of the NFC’s top offenses and finished 13-5, carrying high expectations into the playoffs. Matthew Stafford, now 37, led the league in passing yardage and touchdown passes during the regular season, cementing his place among the NFL’s most productive veterans and earning All-Pro honors the morning of the game. Los Angeles had been installed as a 10½-point favorite for this wild-card matchup, reflecting both offensive firepower and playoff experience on Sean McVay’s roster.
Carolina reached the postseason at 8-10 under second-year head coach Dave Canales, ending a long drought since the 2017 playoff trip. The Panthers leaned on Bryce Young’s dual-threat ability and a heavier dose of the run late in the year, with Chuba Hubbard providing short-yardage punch. The teams had split recent meetings, including Carolina’s 31-28 win at Bank of America Stadium earlier in the season, setting the stage for a tightly contested rematch.
Main Event
The game opened with the Rams taking advantage of a defensive fourth-down stop to jump ahead; Stafford connected with Puka Nacua for a 14-yard touchdown on the drive’s conclusion. L.A. extended the lead after Nacua scored on a 5-yard run following a Young interception, and the Rams led 14-0 early. Carolina responded before halftime, with Chuba Hubbard scoring from close range and Bryce Young scrambling for a 16-yard touchdown to make it 17-14 at the break.
Momentum swung repeatedly in the second half. The Panthers rallied to take the lead in the fourth quarter when Hubbard finished a running touchdown that put Carolina up 24-20. Stafford answered with a drive that ended with Kyren Williams’ 13-yard touchdown, giving Los Angeles the edge. A costly holding penalty on the Rams later forced a punt that Isaiah Simmons then blocked, creating a short field for the Panthers.
Carolina capitalized on the blocked punt when Bryce Young found Jalen Coker in the left corner of the end zone for a 7-yard score with 2:39 remaining, making it 31-27 and igniting the home crowd. The Rams quickly regrouped; Stafford completed 6 of 7 passes on a 71-yard final possession — the only incompletion on the series was a dropped pass by Davante Adams — and hit Colby Parkinson on a 19-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left to take the lead. Carolina’s final attempt stalled when Jimmy Horn dropped a fourth-down pass from Young, sealing the Rams’ win.
Analysis & Implications
Leadership and experience were decisive factors. Stafford’s poise in late-game situations — he said he prefers to be the one responsible in those moments — allowed L.A. to convert under pressure. His postseason composure, combined with the Rams’ offensive weapons, makes Los Angeles a tougher matchup for opponents expecting a repeat of the regular-season struggles the team acknowledged after the game. Still, coach Sean McVay conceded the performance had flaws that need correction before the next round, notably special-teams lapses and turnovers.
For Carolina, the season carries both progress and missed opportunity. The Panthers reached the playoffs despite an 8-10 record by maximizing key moments late in the year, but inexperience showed in critical sequences — penalties and special-teams breakdowns directly contributed to unfavorable field position. Bryce Young’s dual-threat play was effective (264 passing yards, one passing TD, one rushing TD), and Jalen Coker’s emergence as a reliable target (nine catches for 134 yards) offers promise, yet the team’s four losses in its final five regular-season games foreshadowed the inconsistency that appeared here.
Strategically, the game underscored how single plays swing postseason outcomes: a blocked punt, a dropped target, or a perfectly placed back-shoulder throw can decide a season. L.A. advances but must address pass-protection, red-zone efficiency and special-teams coverage. Carolina exits with young building blocks but will need reinforcement across the roster and improved situational discipline to convert a playoff return into sustained postseason success.
Comparison & Data
| Team | Season Record | Primary QB Passing Yds | Top Game Receiver | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 13-5 | Matthew Stafford — 304 | Puka Nacua — 111 | Win, 34-31 |
| Carolina Panthers | 8-10 | Bryce Young — 264 | Jalen Coker — 134 | Loss, 31-34 |
The table above highlights the game’s main box-score contrasts: Stafford’s 304-yard day and Nacua’s 111 receiving yards were matched by Bryce Young’s 264 yards and Coker’s 134. Special-teams and turnovers provided the decisive edge despite comparable offensive output.
Reactions & Quotes
“Never a doubt — No. 9 is with us,”
Puka Nacua, Rams receiver
Nacua captured the locker-room sentiment about Stafford’s leadership after the game, crediting the veteran quarterback with calmness under pressure.
“I have been in that spot a lot in my life — and I love that spot,”
Matthew Stafford, Rams quarterback
Stafford described why he prefers late-game responsibility, framing the comeback as a product of experience rather than luck.
“There is such a mix of emotions right now… And that is going to sting,”
Dave Canales, Panthers head coach
Canales summarized his team’s conflicted mood — pride for returning to the playoffs and pain over the blown opportunity.
Unconfirmed
- Any immediate MVP designation for Stafford: he remains a leading candidate, but the official award will be decided later and is not confirmed by this game alone.
- Long-term roster moves for the Panthers or Rams tied to this outcome have not been announced and remain speculative.
Bottom Line
The Rams move forward on the strength of veteran leadership and a late offensive surge, but the game also exposed areas needing immediate attention — special teams and situational execution top the list. Los Angeles’s ability to close tight games enhances its postseason credentials, though the staff will have limited time to correct the mistakes McVay highlighted.
Carolina leaves with signs of growth around Bryce Young and emerging playmakers like Jalen Coker, yet the loss underscores the thin margin for error in the playoffs. The Panthers’ comeback season provides a foundation, but front-office decisions and offseason development will determine whether they can translate this return into sustained contention.