5 Takeaways From the Rams' Win Over the Panthers

[ad_1] Financial institution of America Stadium (Charlotte) – The Los Angeles Rams narrowly prevented an enormous upset because of their MVP-caliber quarterback.

The Rams held off the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, advancing to the Divisional Spherical with a 34-31 win. Matthew Stafford drove the Rams 71 yards down the sector for a drive that concluded with a 19-yard landing move to tight finish Colby Parkinson.

Listed here are my takeaways:

1. Matthew Stafford delivers a game-winning drive worthy of MVP A blocked punt had helped the Panthers to the lead with 2:38 left, and the Rams took over at their very own 29-yard line in want of a landing to win. Stafford was surgical, working brief passes to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, getting shortly to the Carolina 30 with 1:15 left.

A brief move to Konata Mumpfield set them up on the 19, and Stafford threw a great thing about a move to the suitable pylon, with tight finish Colby Parkinson making a spinning catch and touchdown in the long run zone to silence the Financial institution of America Stadium crowd of 73,426 for the lead with 38 seconds left.

After struggling in the midst of the sport, Stafford was 12-of-15 for 143 yards and two touchdowns within the fourth quarter.

Stafford had 46 touchdowns within the common season – simply essentially the most within the NFL – however that’s all a footnote if the Rams lose within the opening spherical of the playoffs. As an alternative, he threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns and the Rams are alive to struggle once more in one other spherical.

Matthew Stafford connects with Colby Parkinson for 19-yard TD, giving Rams late lead over Panthers | NFL Highlights 2. Bryce Younger confirmed up within the second half Carolina, a 10-point dwelling underdog coming into the sport that was down 10 within the second quarter, rallied again for the lead within the fourth quarter earlier than the particular groups confirmed up in a giant method. A blocked punt arrange the Panthers deep in Rams territory, with Younger connecting with reveiver Jalen Coker for a seven-yard landing with lower than three minutes left.

Younger and Coker every had monster video games, together with a 52-yard connection earlier within the recreation. Coker completed with 9 catches for 134 yards, popping out of the shadow of rookie extensive receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who nonetheless had 5 catches for 81 yards, for a breakout efficiency.

Younger had already overwhelmed the Rams this season again on Nov. 30 for a win that helped Carolina pull off an unlikely division win. His general numbers weren’t wonderful – 21-for-40 for 264 yards and a single landing and an interception – however he confirmed he can compete on this stage reverse the presumptive NFL MVP in Stafford.

3. Perhaps the NFC South wasn’t that horrible Sure, the NFC South had a champion with a shedding document, but when there was one factor to say a few dangerous division, they confirmed they may very well be giant-killers.

Carolina entered tonight having already overwhelmed the Rams and Packers, whereas the Buccaneers received at Houston and Seattle and beat the 49ers. Even the Falcons beat the Payments and the Rams.

All of the speak about taking away automated dwelling video games for division champs rings hole when a crew reveals up as Carolina did. You possibly can argue the house subject performed a job in how nicely the Panthers performed, however as a 10-point dwelling underdog, they took a stand for dangerous division winners all over the place.

4. Has ‘going for it’ gone too far? NFL coaches being bolder and going for it extra typically is nice for TV and followers and erring on the aspect of pleasure, however might or not it's that they’ve collectively gotten too aggressive for their very own good?

The Rams had been up 17-7 with lower than 2 minutes left within the first half, dealing with fourth-and-3 on the Carolina 19-yard line – and so they went for it. Stafford’s move was incomplete, which led to the Panthers go down the sector and for a landing to make it a 17-14 recreation at halftime.

Now, that’s a worst-case state of affairs for the Rams and an unlikely consequence, however why not simply take three factors and a 20-7 lead and belief that your protection can get the job performed? As an alternative, you gave a crew that had been lifeless a real spark earlier than halftime and let the sport get a lot nearer than it wanted to be.

It was the identical deal for Carolina late within the third quarter when it confronted a fourth-and-4 at Rams’ 48. The Panthers protection had performed nicely, however the Panthers went for it. The move was incomplete, giving Los Angeles the ball close to midfield as an alternative of forcing the Rams to drive the size of the sector and taking part in a recreation of subject place.

5. Give credit score to the Panthers’ crowd This was Carolina’s first dwelling playoff recreation in 10 years, an opportunity to indicate how nicely Charlotte has backed its crew in its rise from profitable two video games two years in the past. And the stadium felt prefer it, from former Panther nice Cam Newton on the sector in pregame to the vitality to the Panthers getting again within the recreation earlier than halftime.

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Pictures)

We don’t actually count on the Rams to journey nicely throughout the nation, however the crowd noise was an element for the Panthers, an vitality the crew fed off as they saved sticking round.

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade overlaying the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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