CHARLOTTE (AP) — Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left to lead the Los Angeles Rams to a dramatic 34-31 victory Saturday over the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card Round in the first game of the NFL playoffs.
Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception, while Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 111 yards and two total touchdowns as the Rams (13-5), who were 10.5-point favorites, advanced to the Divisional Round of the 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 last five games.
Jalen Coker set career highs with nine receptions for 134 yards with one touchdown and Chuba Hubbard rushed for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
Carolina cut the lead to 17-14 at halftime after a 1-yard touchdown run by Hubbard and a 16-yard scamper by Young, the second-longest touchdown run of his career.
The Rams had a chance to increase the lead, but Nacua dropped a potential third touchdown on a pass down the right sideline from Stafford just before halftime.
