Coming off a dominant win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Rams had a great opportunity to build their case as the best team in the NFL with a Week 13 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers have been a feisty team during the 2025 season, but the Rams entered their matchup as massive favorites. Carolina was missing several key pieces on both ends of the field, giving Los Angeles the upper hand in both talent and depth.
However, the Rams squandered their chance at establishing themselves atop the standings as they were upset 31-28 by a Panthers squad that seemingly came up with every play they needed to have to win.
Los Angeles came out of the gate quickly thanks to a solid kickoff return from Ronnie Rivers that included a Carolina penalty. With a shorter field, Matthew Stafford had no problem capping off the drive with a Davante Adams touchdown pass to make it 7-0.
The Panthers quickly responded with a receiving touchdown from Chubba Hubbard and from that point the Rams started to beat themselves. Stafford had thrown an NFL-record 28 touchdown passes with no interceptions before offering up his first pick in 10 weeks after his pass was tipped. While the defense forced a punt, Stafford was once again intercepted except this time Carolina ran it back for a touchdown to make it 14-7.
Stafford rebounded with an efficient scoring drive that featured a deep pass to Xavier Smith and Adams’ second receiving touchdown that tied it 14-14. Carolina’s run game bled the clock and led a drive that resulted in a field goal that made it 17-14, but Stafford would respond on the following Los Angeles possession.
Stafford hit Smith for another explosive play, this time going for 51 yards. Blake Corum finished off the drive with an end zone run that gave the Rams a 21-17 advantage at halftime.
Stafford to Davante. Like clockwork. pic.twitter.com/pcAn3faGGj
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) November 30, 2025
STAFFORD TO DAVANTE AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/ZCMq8yA1RD
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) November 30, 2025
TOUGH run from Blake Corum to find the end zone! pic.twitter.com/a48NybpN9b
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) November 30, 2025
10th sack of the season for @byron_97 😤 pic.twitter.com/qDWzzGzBpT
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) November 30, 2025
Catch. Of. The. Year. @AsapPuka 😱 pic.twitter.com/JgN3BQMe0N
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) November 30, 2025
Too easy for Kyren 😤pic.twitter.com/nnwdBudrE8
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) November 30, 2025
The third quarter was where the game truly flipped as Bryce Young found a streaking Jalen Coker downfield to put Carolina up 28-24. The Rams then went three-and-out on their first possession and the Panthers went on to drain the clock behind their run game. While Los Angeles managed to get a stop, Carolina took so much time off that it forced the Rams to hurry up their offense.
Corum gashed the Panthers for a huge-34 yard gain to kick off the fourth quarter, while Kyren Williams put the exclamation point on the drive with a seven-yard rushing touchdown to make it 28-24. However, the Panthers and Young punched back with a 43-yard strike to Tetairoa McMillan that put them back up 31-28.
Stafford led the Rams into field goal range in the closing minutes, but a costly fumble allowed the Panthers to seal the game.
What’s next for the Rams
The Rams will look to rebound in Week 14 in a pivotal NFC West matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on the road.
