The favored Los Angeles Rams prevailed against the Carolina Panthers with unexpected effort and reached the second round of the NFL playoffs. At 34:31, only a touchdown 38 seconds before the end secured the lead after the Panthers had taken the lead twice in the final quarter and had taken advantage of mistakes by the Rams. “We made some mistakes along the way, but we found a way to win it. The defense said we’ll do it – and they did,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford told Fox TV.
Which opponent the Rams face in the divisional round depends on the further results. Without any surprises, they face a duel with the Seattle Seahawks, who had a bye in the first round as the NFC’s best team.
Stafford delivers when it counts
Stafford, who ended up with three touchdown passes and gained 304 yards after passes, led the Rams to a good start. The guests were ahead 14-0 early on, the Panthers had no access to the game. After halftime, however, the hosts kept the atmosphere in Charlotte and excitement right up until the end. An interception by defender Mike Jackson, who was born in Frankfurt am Main, gave the Panthers their first lead, after which a blocked punt was the basis for the renewed lead to 31:27.
But then Stafford threw a perfect pass to Colby Parkinson and the 27-year-old completed the decisive touchdown in a very small space. In the remaining seconds, the Los Angeles defense ensured that the Panthers did not gain a yard of space and ended their season.
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