Rams Hold On to Beat Panthers in Tight Game

"The Rams advance to the NFC Divisional Round, while the Panthers are eliminated."

The Los Angeles Rams held on to defeat the Carolina Panthers 34–31 in an exciting NFC Wild Card playoff game on 10 January 2026. The game was played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Panthers started strong, coming back from an early 14-point deficit and even taking a late lead. However, the Rams responded with a 71-yard game-winning drive, capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Colby Parkinson with just 38 seconds remaining.

Stafford finished the game with 304 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Puka Nacua also had a standout performance with 10 catches for 111 yards and two total touchdowns. Bryce Young led the Panthers with 264 passing yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

With this victory, the Rams advance to the NFC Divisional Round, while the Panthers are eliminated from the playoffs. Despite the loss, Carolina showed strong effort in their first playoff appearance in eight years.