The Los Angeles Rams finished the regular season with the No. 5 seed in the NFC at 12-5, setting up a Wild Card Weekend matchup on the road with the Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers beat the Rams a few weeks ago, but the L.A. has way more talent and was a heavy favorite in the rematch. That’s now how it played on Saturday as the Panthers gave the Rams everything they could take before Sean McVay’s team came away with a 34-31 victory.
Carolina got the ball first and chose to go for it on fourth down on their own side of the field. Quentin Lake, who was returning after missing the last month with an elbow injury, had a big pass breakup to force the turnover on downs. The Rams’ offense immediately took advantage as Matthew Stafford found Puka Nacua for a touchdown.
Cobie Durant came up with another big turnover for the Rams on a tipped interception, and the offense capitalized with another Nacua touchdown.
The Rams had a chance to step in the Panthers throat to end the first half after a muffed punt, but they were stopped on fourth down and then gave up a long drive for a touchdown. After a Panthers field goal early in the third quarter, the game was all tied at 17.
You might wanna block Poona Ford. pic.twitter.com/zl94LJH5Eh
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 10, 2026
The Land Shark got him one! 🦈 pic.twitter.com/L1sMMfX6HV
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 10, 2026
Second TD of the day for Puka 😤pic.twitter.com/S95MSG7pM6
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 10, 2026
Let’s get some points before half! pic.twitter.com/iUKv9gizq9
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 10, 2026
Stafford finds Kyren and #RamsHouse has regained the lead! pic.twitter.com/n9TNuhk5n9
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 11, 2026
Colby Parkinson with an OUTSTANDING touchdown ! pic.twitter.com/4Z0zapMv8i
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) January 11, 2026
Stafford got hit in the hand late in the first half and clearly didn’t look like himself after that. Meanwhile, the Rams began to unravel with some bad penalties and all of a sudden the Panthers took a 24-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.
The Rams had a nice response as Stafford hit Davante Adams for a big game and then Kyren Williams for the touchdown to regain the lead, both on no-look passes.
After a stop by the defense, the Rams had a chance to put the game away but their drive was killed by a holding penalty by backup right guard Justin Dedich. L.A.’s punt was then blocked, setting Carolina up with great field position. They took advantage as Bryce Young found Jalen Coker for a touchdown, putting the Panthers up by four in the final minutes.
Stafford and the offense needed to put together a touchdown drive to keep their season alive. That is exactly what he did as Colby Parkinson made an outstanding touchdown catch with 38 seconds to play to go up by three.
Of course, the Panthers just needed a field goal to tie it and had all of their timeouts to work with. Young proceeded to throw fourth straight incompletions though and the Rams survived and advanced.
What’s next for the Rams…
With their win, the Rams advance to the NFC divisional round next weekend, although their opponent will be determined based on how the rest of the wild card round plays out.
Regardless of who they play though, the Rams will need to clean some stuff up if they want to make a Super Bowl run.
