Matthew Stafford leads Rams to late comeback in playoff win over Panthers

Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left, lifting the Rams to a 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card game; Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards.

Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining, giving the Rams a 34-31 victory over the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card game at Bank of America Stadium. Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards and had one interception. He struggled at times after his throwing hand hit a Panthers player's helmet but completed six of seven passes on the final drive. The Rams overcame missed opportunities, a blocked punt against them and several drops to advance to the divisional round. Key facts: - Stafford's 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson came with 38 seconds left and decided the game 34-31 in the Rams' favor. - Stafford finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards, with touchdown passes to Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams and Colby Parkinson, and one interception. - Puka Nacua had 10 catches for 111 yards and also scored a short rushing touchdown; Davante Adams returned from injury and caught five passes for 72 yards. - Harrison Mevis kicked two field goals, and Cobie Durant recorded an interception for the Rams' defense. - Carolina rallied late, including a blocked punt and a seven-yard touchdown catch by Jalen Coker that gave the Panthers a short-lived lead before Stafford's final drive. Summary: The Rams advance to the NFC divisional round after the comeback win, and the game extends a pattern of late-game finishes noted in Stafford's playoff history. Undetermined at this time.