Rams escape a Panthers' upset 34-31

The playoffs started Saturday with the Rams opening the day off with playing the staggering Carolina Panthers to kick off wildcard weekend. Matthew Stafford has been playing lights out and was one of the favorites to win MVP, Davante Adams was back in the lineup after being on the sideline with a hamstring injured he suffered in Week 15, and Puka Nuku has been on a tear with making plays when the Rams needed it. With all that firepower on the offensive end, LA was a 10-point favorite to run away with the game.

Prior to kickoff, Rams' head coach Sean McVay told his team to play without fear and play every down." They did just that on their opening drive. After the Rams stopped the Panthers on a fourth and short, Stafford and crew found the endzone in four plays to go up 7-0. Outside of the offense getting a productive score, let's talk about their defense. Late in the first quarter, B. Young had a chance to come away with points, but the Rams took that away as Cobie Durant picked off Young. LA took the pick and turned it into another Puka cash money touchdown on a seven-play drive.

It looked like the Rams were going to run away with the game, but as the Panthers would say, keep pounding. Carolina got themselves on the board with a one-yard touchdown. It looked like the Rams were in complete control, but the biggest factor that let Carolina back in the game was, Nuku dropping a touchdown pass on a fourth and short. The Panthers went down the field and scored another touchdown, which cut the Rams' lead to three at the end of the break.

Coming out into the second half, the Rams' personnel told their team to limit the penalties, just settle in ad take it play after play. The third quarter was just a weird quarter for the Rams. La only had the ball three times, while Stafford struggled to convert downs. At one point he did not complete a pass in eight consecutive throws. They ended up scoring a field goal two plays later after Adams was blasted on a helmet to helmet hit by the Panther's safety.

Let's head to the fourth quarter. The Rams who were a 10-point favor was looking at the scoreboard and was trying to figure out what was going on as the Panthers took the lead for the first time in the game. Nuku was shut down and Stafford looked out of sync with throwing the ball. Stafford was like hold my beer because you thought I was in a slump. He took his team down the field on a nine-play drive and scored a td to retake the lead.

With under four minutes left in regulation, the Rams were clinging onto a three-point lead in hopes that their defense could stop the Panthers. That was not the case, Young threw a fade route to Jalen Coker for the potential go-ahead touchdown to retake the lead. Down by four with under two minutes left, the question that people were asking, would Stafford sprinkle some magic for the comeback victory or would they fall short.

Matthew Stafford calmy took his team down the field and took the breath out of Carolina as they legit had four plays in the middle of the field that turned into big gains. A play later Stafford threw a high ball that Colby Parkinson caught for a 10-yard touchdown to ice the game. Stafford finished 24 out 42 for 304 yards, 3 td's and 1 pick.