Stafford's late 19-yard TD lifts Rams to 34-31 playoff comeback over Panthers
Matthew Stafford's late 19-yard touchdown completed a 34-31 comeback, sending the Rams to the NFC Divisional Round while eliminating the Panthers 8-10 on Sunday night.
FOX NewsMatthew Stafford’s late heroics lift Rams past Panthers in wild-card thriller
Associated PressRams rally past Panthers to open NFL playoffs, advance to divisional round
Associated PressBears and Rams advance to divisional round with comeback wins to open NFL playoffs
USA TODAYRams survive Panthers in wild-card thriller: Winners and losers
Overview
Matthew Stafford threw for 304 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, including a 19-yard game-winning pass that completed a 34-31 comeback in the NFL wild-card playoff.
Puka Nacua caught 10 passes for 111 yards, scored a receiving touchdown and a 5-yard rushing TD, powering the Rams' offense alongside Stafford in the divisional-clinching win.
Carolina rallied from 14-0 down to lead 24-20, as Bryce Young threw for 264 yards and a touchdown and Chuba Hubbard ran effectively but the Panthers fell short.
Stafford set Rams postseason records for passing yards and completions, surpassing Kurt Warner, and credited his calm to 17 years' NFL experience after the narrow victory.
A key fourth-down drop by Jimmy Horn and a defensive stop by the Rams sealed Carolina's elimination; coach Sean McVay called the team's performance below standard despite advancing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the Rams' victory as a thrilling, hard-fought win, emphasizing the resilience and leadership of Matthew Stafford. Language choices like "calmly led" and "dramatic, come-from-behind" highlight Stafford's composure and experience. The narrative prioritizes the Rams' strategic plays and key performances, while the Panthers' efforts are acknowledged but not emphasized, creating a narrative of Rams' dominance and perseverance.