The NFL playoffs kicked off with a bang as the Los Angeles Rams narrowly escaped a determined Carolina Panthers squad, clinching a 34-31 victory in Charlotte on January 10, 2026. What a way to open Wild Card Weekend! For fans craving drama, this one checked every box—a flurry of touchdowns, a seesawing scoreboard, and a finish that left everyone gasping for air.
Heading into Bank of America Stadium, the Rams were pegged as heavy favorites. They boasted a formidable 12-5 regular season record and the league’s most explosive offense, led by the ageless Matthew Stafford. Meanwhile, the Panthers, despite a modest 8-9 record, had home-field advantage after stumbling to an NFC South division title. But as the game unfolded, it became clear: records meant little in this playoff cauldron.
Los Angeles wasted no time flexing their offensive muscle. Stafford, in his 15th NFL season and the league’s passing leader, connected early and often with breakout receiver Puka Nacua. Within the opening 16 minutes, Nacua had already crossed the goal line twice, staking the Rams to a 14-0 lead. The first was a crisp 14-yard strike up the seam; the second, a cleverly designed screen that Nacua turned into a rushing touchdown—making him just the second Ram ever to log both a receiving and rushing score in the same playoff game. “Who else but Puka?” the FOX broadcast team exclaimed as Nacua continued his stellar rookie campaign.
Yet the Panthers refused to wilt. Quarterback Bryce Young, in his first playoff start, showed nerves of steel. After a Chuba Hubbard one-yard plunge trimmed the deficit, Young orchestrated a gutsy two-minute drill before halftime, capping it himself with a dazzling 16-yard scramble into the end zone. Suddenly, the Rams’ 17-7 cushion evaporated. The teams jogged to the locker room with Los Angeles nursing a slim 17-14 lead, but the momentum had clearly shifted.
Carolina’s resilience didn’t stop there. After halftime, the Panthers tied the game with a Ryan Fitzgerald field goal, and soon after, Hubbard found the end zone again, giving Carolina its first lead at 24-20. The home crowd, starved for playoff football for over a decade, erupted. Jalen Coker, the second-year receiver, was everywhere—hauling in nine catches for 134 yards and a critical touchdown. His third-quarter heroics included a 52-yard catch-and-run and a leaping grab in the end zone that put Carolina ahead with just 2:39 remaining. “Jalen Coker is having the best game of his career,” FOX Sports noted, and it was hard to disagree.
But these Rams are built for moments like this. Stafford, whose late-game exploits are the stuff of legend, shook off earlier inconsistencies and delivered when it mattered most. Down four with under three minutes left, he engineered a seven-play, 71-yard march, mixing pinpoint throws to Konata Mumpfield and Nacua with clock management that would make any coach proud. Then, with 38 seconds left, Stafford zipped a five-yard pass to tight end Colby Parkinson by the right sideline. Parkinson held on—touchdown Rams! The visitors reclaimed the lead, 34-31, and the Los Angeles sideline erupted.
Stafford’s stat line was as impressive as his poise: 24 completions on 42 attempts, 304 yards, three touchdowns, and a single interception. The three scoring throws brought his career total to 423, moving him up to ninth on the NFL’s all-time passing touchdowns list. Not bad for a guy many doubted would ever return to MVP form. As The Sporting News observed, “Stafford, the ultimate fourth-quarter assassin, led the Rams on a seven-play, 71-yard drive in the final minutes, taking the lead one final time with the Parkinson score.”
The Panthers, to their credit, had one last gasp. Young, who led the league in game-winning drives since entering the NFL, tried to conjure another miracle. With 32 seconds left, he moved Carolina into Rams territory, but a crucial fourth-down pass to rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. slipped through the receiver’s hands. That was all she wrote. Stafford took a knee, and Los Angeles punched their ticket to the NFC Divisional Round.
There were plenty of unsung heroes in this contest. Isaiah Simmons’ blocked punt for Carolina late in the fourth quarter nearly swung the game, setting up Coker’s go-ahead touchdown. On the Rams’ side, Kyren Williams provided a crucial fourth-quarter response with a touchdown reception, keeping Los Angeles within striking distance. And let’s not forget the return of Davante Adams, who, despite missing the final three regular-season games with a hamstring injury, contributed key catches to keep drives alive.
For Carolina, the loss stings, but the future looks bright. Bryce Young finished his third regular season with 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, and his playoff debut showcased both athleticism and leadership. Rookie receiver Tet McMillan also flashed potential, adding four catches for 65 yards. Coach Dave Canales’ aggressive play-calling—Carolina led the league in fourth-down conversions—kept the Rams on their heels all night.
On the other sideline, head coach Sean McVay’s Rams continue to defy expectations. After being upset by the Panthers earlier in the season, Los Angeles avenged the loss in the best way possible. Their offense, which led the league in scoring, once again proved it can win shootouts against any defense. With Nacua, Adams, Williams, and Parkinson all healthy and contributing, and Stafford playing at an MVP level, the Rams look poised for a deep playoff run.
What’s next? The Rams now advance to the NFC Divisional Round, with their opponent still to be determined as the rest of the Wild Card games play out. For fans in Los Angeles, dreams of another Super Bowl run are alive and well. As for Carolina, they’ll regroup and reload, knowing they pushed one of the NFL’s best to the brink in front of a raucous home crowd.
Playoff football is back, and if this Rams-Panthers thriller is any indication, we’re in for a wild January ride.
