Rams hang on for 34-31 wild card playoff road win over Panthers, advance to divisional round

The Rams offense went 3-and-out to open the second half after three-straight incompletions, which led to a Panthers scoring drive capped off by a 46-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Fitzgerald to tie the game 17-17 with 7:23 left in the third quarter. The drive erased 7 minutes and 8 seconds off the clock.

On the ensuing series, the Rams answered with a 42-yard field goal by Mevis to regain the lead 20-17 with 4:17 left in the third quarter. However, the kickoff return go to the Carolina 31 gained 15 extra yards from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Rams outside linebacker Desjuan Johnson after the return. Despite the consequent advantageous field position from its own 46, Carolina turned the ball over on downs after Young’s incomplete pass intended for Hubbard on 4th and 4 from the Rams 48.

However, the next drive saw Stafford sacked for a loss of nine yards on second down, then intercepted by Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson on third down, giving Carolina the ball back at its own 38. Helped by a 52-yard completion from Young to Coker and an unnecessary roughness penalty against inside linebacker Nate Landman, Carolina took advantage of the takeaway to take the lead 24-20 on a 3-yard touchdown run by Hubbard with 14:34 left in the fourth quarter.

Trailing by four, the Rams reached the Panthers 30 on the next series and kept the drive alive converting 4th and 1 from that spot with a 2-yard run by running back Kyren Williams, and three plays later a Stafford sneak up the middle on 3rd and 1 from the Panthers 19, to regain the lead 27-24 on a 13-yard Stafford touchdown pass to Williams with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter. More important than any of those conversions, though, was Nacua breaking up a would-be interception by Panthers safety Nick Scott in the endzone.