Sarah Barshop
David Newton
David Newton
ESPN Staff Writer
David Newton is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Carolina Panthers. Newton began covering Carolina in 1995 and came to ESPN in 2006 as a NASCAR reporter before joining NFL Nation in 2013.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Los Angeles Rams have advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs for the second year in a row after beating the Carolina Panthers 34-31 on Saturday.
The Rams looked like they were going to run away from the Panthers early on, taking a 14-0 lead, but the Panthers stormed back to make it 17-14 at the half. Carolina tied the game in the third quarter and went ahead in the fourth, but after four fourth-quarter lead changes, Los Angeles ended up on top.
This game was a rematch of the Rams’ 31-28 Week 13 loss to the Panthers. In the week leading up to the wild-card game, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was asked what he’d like to do differently when facing Carolina for the second time this season.
“I’d like to not throw it to their team,” Stafford said of his three turnovers in Week 13. “I think that was the story of the game when you think about it.”
Stafford threw an interception in the third quarter, but unlike the first matchup, the Rams won the turnover battle against Carolina, forcing two in the first half. According to ESPN Research, it is the Rams’ 10th game with multiple takeaways this season, which is tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for most in the NFL.
What to make of the QB performance: On the same day Stafford was named a first-team All-Pro, he led the Rams to a fourth-quarter comeback victory. Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. After the Rams scored the first 14 points in the game, the unit struggled to move the ball consistently, but Stafford put the Rams on his back when it counted most. Stafford led the Rams on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, first to take the lead with 8:47 remaining and then for good with 38 seconds left.
Most surprising performance: The Rams had nine penalties on Saturday, which is the most for the Rams in any game this season, according to ESPN Research.
Trend to watch: Special teams again reared its ugly head for the Rams when Ethan Evans’ punt was blocked late in the fourth quarter. Four plays later, the Panthers scored a touchdown to take the lead. While it did not cost the Rams the game on Saturday, the unit continues to be a problem for Los Angeles.
Stat to know: Receiver Puka Nacua scored two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing) on Saturday, becoming the second Rams player to have a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in a playoff game, according to ESPN Research. Nacua joined Marshall Faulk, who did it in the 1999 divisional round against the Vikings. Nacua finished with 10 catches for 111 yards and the touchdown. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: TBD
Not a pushover. Not at all.
Early on, the Panthers looked like the team that backed into the playoffs with consecutive losses, digging a 14-0 hole and committing two first-half turnovers.
Then quarterback Bryce Young and 2024 undrafted receiver Jalen Coker heated up, and the defense clamped down on Rams receivers Nacua and Davante Adams, allowing Carolina to take a brief 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter.
They led 31-27 with just under three minutes to play after a 7-yard touchdown throw by Young to Coker.
In the end, Carolina didn’t have enough to get their first playoff victory since the 2015 team won the NFC Championship.
What to make of the QB performance: Young may have arrived. He struggled a bit early but finished 21-of-40 for 264 yards and a touchdown in addition to a rushing touchdown. His touchdown throw to Coker late was huge, as he continued his fourth-quarter heroics this season.
Stat to know: The Panthers held Stafford to 1-for-9 on passes of 15 or more air yards through three quarters. He was 0-for-8 targeting Nacua and Adams during that time. Stafford completed 51% of those throws during the regular season, the eighth-highest percentage in the league.
Most surprising performance: Coker continues to break out. By early in the fourth quarter, he had 125 receiving yards, the second most by a Panthers receiver in his first career playoff game. Steve Smith Sr. had 135 in his 2004 postseason debut. After scoring with 2:39 left, Coker finished one yard off of Smith’s record with 134 yards, catching nine of 12 targets. — David Newton
Next game: Week 1, 2026
