Rams vs Panthers Wild-Card Round Live Game Thread

Charlotte, NC -- The Los Angeles Rams will be on the road facing the Carolina Panthers for their first game in the playoffs. The Panthers have already beaten the Rams in one game before this season; the Rams have to make sure it doesn't happen again.

This was the best-case scenario for the Rams if they weren't going to get the 1 seed in the NFC. Even if the Panthers did beat the Rams, it took a flukey game from Matthew Stafford, where he threw two interceptions. He isn't a quarterback to give away the ball like that. How can the Rams ensure their season continues and they aren't sent home by the Panthers?

What To Look Out For

Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay walks into the stadium before the NFC Wild Card Round game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

The biggest difference between their last matchup and this one is that they'll have Davante Adams at their disposal. He's a big part of their offense and has an automatic connection with Stafford in the red zone.

The Panthers lived with putting all of their secondary's attention on Puka Nacua and forcing him to make spectacular catches every play. Nacua is such a good player that he still ended up with 72 yards, but he's sure to be more impactful this time around with his running mate healthy and beside him.

Another big indicator of how successful the Rams will be will come down to how they can protect Stafford with their offensive line. Their loss to the Atlanta Falcons showed the NFL the blueprint to dismantling this elite Rams' offense, and that's with unrelenting pressure on the quarterback.

The Rams' offensive line will be healthier than it was against the Falcons, but they'll still be without their starting right guard, Kevin Dotson. Stafford isn't very mobile outside the pocket, so it's expected that they'll be sending a lot of blitzes and coverages with intentions to get Stafford off his game. However, with Adams back in the lineup, there should be more punishment for sending so much pressure home and letting their cornerbacks defend them one-on-one.

Jan 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during pregame warm ups before the NFC Wild Card Round game between the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Ultimately, the biggest thing the Rams have to look out for is turning the ball over. Out of Stafford's eight interceptions this season, only two of them have come in a win. As long as they're not frivolous with the ball, they should have an easy time taking care of a team that won their division by a hair.

The game kicks off at 1:30 PM PST / 4:30 PM EST and can be watched on FOX Sports!

Be sure to follow along with our live game thread for updates throughout the contest.

START OF THE FIRST QUARTER:

TURNOVER: The Panthers go for it on 4th down and don't get it, they turn the ball over on downs

SCORING UPDATE NO. 1: Rams QB Matthew Stafford finds Rams WR Puka Nacua for a 14-yard touchdown catch, Rams up 7 - 0

SACK: Rams DE Braden Fiske gets the game's first sack, taking down Panthers QB Bryce Young for a loss of 5 yards

INJURY: Panthers LT Ikem Ekwonu is down with an injury

SACK: Rams DT Poona Ford takes down Young for a loss of 9 yards

INJURY: Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon is down on the field

TURNOVER: Rams CB Cobie Durant picks off the ball from the air and returns it for 10 yards

PENALTY: Panthers TE Mitchell Evans committed a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER: Rams up 7 - 0

START OF THE SECOND QUARTER:

SCORING UPDATE NO. 2: Nacua scores his 2nd touchdown, a 5-yard screen pass which counts as a rushing touchdown to extend their lead, Rams up 14 - 0

BIG PLAY: Young's favorite target, Tetairoa McMillan catches a pass for 22-yards

PENALTY: Durant picks up a pass-interference penalty in the end zone

INJURY UPDATE: Ekwonu is out for the game

SCORING UPDATE NO. 3: Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard walks it in from 1-yard out to score, Rams up 14 - 7

PENALTY: Rams WR Davante Adams commits a 5-yard false-start penalty

PENALTY: Rams WR Xavier Smith's offensive offside's penalty sets them back another 5-yards

BIG PLAY: Rams TE Tyler Higbee was wide open and catches a pass from Stafford for 36-yards

SCORING UPDATE NO. 4: Rams K Harrison Mevis nails a 46-yard field goal, Rams up 17 - 7

TURNOVER: Rams LB Troy Reeder recovers a muffled punt, and the Rams get the ball back

2 MINUTE WARNING

PENALTY: Rams OL Steve Avila's illegal block in the back penalty sets them back 10 yards

TURNOVER: Rams go for it on 4th down, and they don't get it, they turn the ball over on downs

PENALTY: Rams S Quentin Lake picks up a 28-yard defensive pass interference penalty

BIG PLAY: Young finds Panthers WR Jalen Coker for a 37-yard completion

SCORING UPDATE NO. 5: Young takes it in himself for a 16-yard touchdown run, Rams up 17 - 14

HALFTIME: Rams up 17 - 14

START OF THE THIRD QUARTER:

PENALTY: Fiske picks up a defensive offside penalty which resets the downs for the Panthers offense

SCORING UPDATE NO. 6: Panthers K Ryan Fitzgerald kicks a 46-yard field goal to tie the game, Rams tied 17 - 17

INJURY: Panthers LB Claudin Cherelus goes down with an injury

PENALTY: Panthers CB Nick Scott picks up a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty after a brutal hit on Adams

SCORING UPDATE NO.7: Mevis kicks a 42-yard field goal to give them the lead, Rams up 20 - 17

PENALTY: Rams DE Desjuan Johnson's taunting penalty gives them 15-yards on the kickoff

TURNOVER: Panthers go for it on 4th down, and they come up short, they turn the ball over back to the Rams

SACK: Panthers LB Trevis Gipson takes down Stafford for a loss of 9-yards

TURNOVER: Panthers CB Mike Jackson picks off Stafford

BIG PLAY: Young finds a wide-open Coker for a 52-yard catch

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Rams up 20 - 17

START OF THE FOURTH QUARTER:

PENALTY: Rams LB Nate Landman picks up a 3-yard unnecessary roughness penalty

SCORING UPDATE NO. 8: Hubbard powers it in from 3 yards out to give the Panthers the lead, Rams down 20 - 24

BIG PLAY: Adams makes his biggest play in the game with a 23-yard catch

BIG PLAY: Rams RB Kyren Williams picks up the first down on a 4th and 1

SCORING UPDATE NO. 9: Williams catches a 13-yard touchdown catch to give them back the lead, Rams lead 27 - 24

PENALTY: Panthers OL Cade Mays false start penalty sets them back 5 yards

INJURY: Panthers CB Jaycee Horn comes out of the game

PENALTY: Rams OL Justin Dedich picked up a 10-yard offensive holding penalty

BIG PLAY: The Panthers block the Rams' punt and get optimal field position

SCORING UPDATE NO. 10: Coker catches a 7-yard touchdown catch, Rams down 27 - 31

2 MINUTE WARNING

SCORING UPDATE NO. 11: Rams TE Colby Parkinson makes an incredible toe-tap 19-yard catch to give the Rams the lead late, Rams lead 34 - 31

TURNOVER: Panthers go for it on 4th down and don't get it

END OF THE GAME

The Rams beat the Panthers 34 - 31, advancing to the divisional round.