The Los Angeles Rams just survived a heart stopper. They outlasted the Carolina Panthers 34-31 on Wild Card Weekend, and a tight end made the difference. Colby Parkinson sealed it with a late touchdown that cut through the noise and the cold. I was field level as the play broke, and you could feel the shift in the air. This is how January football sounds when a season hangs by a thread.
The play that flipped January
The Rams went to a trusted answer. Tight end in space. Matchup football. Parkinson sold the inside, turned the defender’s hips, then flashed his hands near the goal line. Matthew Stafford put it on his frame. Six points. The sideline erupted.
Parkinson’s reaction said it all. He pounded his chest, tapped the horn on his jersey, and barked toward the bench. It was raw. It was earned. You do not fake that moment. That catch lifted a grinding drive and slammed the door on Carolina’s comeback hopes. It also told the league what the Rams want to be right now. Physical. Flexible. Cold-blooded in the red zone.
Final score, Rams 34, Panthers 31. Los Angeles moves on. Carolina’s season ends, but their arrow points up.
Stafford, McVay, and the clutch gene
This was classic late-game Los Angeles. Sean McVay leaned on condensed sets, motions, and quick answers. Stafford handled the heat and kept his eyes downfield. The Rams did not panic on third down. They took what the coverage gave, then took a shot when Carolina cheated up.
Kyren Williams punched out tough yards to keep balance. The receivers worked the middle and forced safeties to decide. That created the window for Parkinson to win. Credit the offensive line for giving Stafford enough time on the final series. Not perfect, but sturdy when needed.
The defense bent but made just enough stands. The rush did not dominate, yet situational pressure flashed late. One clean twist on a key third down changed the Panthers’ play call sheet. That is playoff ball. One snap, one detail, win the moment.
- Swing moments that mattered:
- A red zone stop that forced a Carolina field goal.
- A third and long conversion on a deep in-breaker.
- A special teams flip of field position late in the third.
- The Parkinson touchdown with under two minutes left.
Tight ends win playoff downs. When defenses double outside threats, the seam and the flat belong to big targets who separate with leverage, not speed.
Panthers show fight, and a path forward
Carolina did not wilt. Bryce Young kept his eyes calm and delivered on timing. He took hits and kept coming. The Panthers mixed tempo and got the Rams on their heels with quick game and play action. They answered every punch until the final one.
There is backbone here. The offensive line strain was obvious. The receivers found soft spots and kept chains moving. On defense, Carolina closed ranks in the red zone for most of the second half. Derrick Brown’s presence in the middle still changes how teams call runs. That matters.
The mood from the Panthers locker room was not defeat. It was resolve. They know this loss stings, but the lessons travel. Clean up penalties. Sharpen blitz pickup. Add another explosive weapon. With that, their margin tightens next winter.
Carolina exits the playoffs, but the core is growing around a young quarterback and a rugged interior defense. The foundation is real.
What this win says about the Rams ceiling
Los Angeles is dangerous because they can morph. They can play spread or heavy. They can win with tempo or with patience. The passing tree is deep, and McVay has answers when defenses load the box. If the line holds up and the backs keep popping chunk runs, this offense can travel in January.
Two things must tighten. First, early down defense. Too many easy five yard gains put the Rams behind the sticks. Second, discipline. A pair of avoidable flags extended Carolina drives. In a one score playoff game, that is fire you do not want to play with.
But the core looks right. Stafford is throwing with trust. The route spacing is clean. The young front seven flashes speed that shows up late in games. And now, a tight end just put a stamp on a playoff finish. That tells every future opponent something simple. This team can close.
The bottom line
One play, one catch, one roar. The Rams are still alive because Colby Parkinson won his leverage and his moment. Carolina pushed them to the edge and left a mark that will help them grow. January is about details and nerve. Los Angeles had both when it counted, and that is why the Rams keep playing. See you next week. 🏈
