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01/10 19:17 CST Stafford's late TD pass to Parkinson lifts the Rams past the
Panthers 34-31 in the wild-card round
Stafford's late TD pass to Parkinson lifts the Rams past the Panthers 34-31 in
the wild-card round
By STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) --- Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown
pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Rams to a
dramatic 34-31 wild-card round win over the Carolina Panthers in the opening
game of the NFL playoffs on Saturday.
Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards with three touchdown passes, while
Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and two total touchdowns as the Rams
(13-5), who were 10 1/2-point favorites, advanced to the divisional playoffs.
Bryce Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score for
Carolina (8-10), which finished the season losing four of its final five games.
Jalen Coker had career highs with nine receptions for 134 yards with a
touchdown and Chuba Hubbard ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers fell behind 14-0 early, but stormed back to take a 24-20 lead on
Hubbard's second touchdown of the run game early in the fourth quarter.
Stafford, who was selected as an All-Pro earlier in the day, led the Rams back
down on the field and found Kyren Williams for a 13-yard touchdown strike over
the middle for a 27-24 lead.
Los Angeles appeared to be in charge after getting a stop on defense giving
Stafford the ball back.
But a holding penalty put the Rams behind the sticks and forced a punt, which
Isaiah Simmons blocked to set the Panthers up the Rams 30.
Four plays later, Young found Coker in the left corner of the end zone for a
7-yard scoring strike to give Carolina a 31-27 lead 2:39 left, sending the home
crowd into a frenzy.
But Stafford quickly moved the Rams 71 yards in seven plays with Panthers
two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn on the sideline with a concussion,
finishing it off with a perfectly placed pass to Parkinson near the right side
of the goal line. Parkinson, who had two TDs last week, forced his way into the
end zone for the score.
It was nearly the second time this season the Rams lost to the Panthers as a 10
1/2-point underdog. Carolina won 31-28 on Nov. 30.
Carolina's last attempt to move into field-goal range ended when Jimmy Horn
dropped a fourth down pass from Young.
Carolina was hoping the return of former quarterback Cam Newton to Bank of
America Stadium to hit the "Keep Pounding" drum before the game would give the
Panthers a little extra mojo early, but things didn't start well.
After the Rams defense came up with a stop on fourth down at midfield on
Carolina's opening drive, Stafford quickly moved the offense downfield and
found Nacua for a 14-yard touchdown pass over the middle for a 7-0 lead.
Nacua made it 14-0 on a 5-yard run following Young's interception.
Carolina cut the lead 17-14 at halftime after a 1-yard touchdown run by Hubbard
and a 16-yard scramble by Young, the second-longest TD run of his career.
The Rams had a chance to build on the lead, but Nacau dropped a potential third
TD on a pass down the right sideline from Stafford just before halftime.
Stafford sets Rams mark Stafford surpassed Kurt Warner for the most postseason passing yards and completions in Rams history.
Up next Rams: advance to the divisional round. Panthers: season over. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Stafford sets Rams mark Stafford surpassed Kurt Warner for the most postseason passing yards and completions in Rams history.
Up next Rams: advance to the divisional round. Panthers: season over. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
