– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
Follow @Koiki_Sport Follow @ALOST_Official
CHARLOTTE — Similar to how the Los Angeles Rams were the surefire best team in the National Football League for the first three months of the season, Puka Nacua was all but certain to reel in the 176th targeted pass headed his way this season, a perfect strike from Matthew Stafford that was destined for the receiver’s hands — and the receiver destined for a sure backbreaking touchdown.
Puka dropped the ball, like the Rams dropped the chance at being the No. 1 seed the last few weeks, and the Carolina Panthers were on the verge of dropping Los Angeles’ once promising season into a pyre of disappointment.
But another pass that Nacua didn’t catch later on, then one that teammate Colby Parkinson did reel in, kept the Rams’ playoff push in good hands.
Matthew Stafford’s latest game-winning drive in his illustrious career ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Parkinson with 38 seconds remaining, lifting the Rams to a 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers inside Bank of America Stadium to kick off Wild Card weekend. Los Angeles fell down twice in the fourth quarter, including after a Carolina touchdown with 2:39 left set up after another blight in the Rams’ wretched special teams play this season, a blocked punt.
With No. 2 seed Chicago defeating Green Bay in the late game, Los Angeles will either head to top-seeded Seattle or the Bears, depending on the result of the 49ers at Eagles game on Sunday.
“There’s no style points. I think there were a lot of guys that stepped up and made some critical plays at the right time,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “And there’s going to be a lot of great things that we can learn from if we expect to be winning next week, to play the caliber of football that we are capable of. But I love this group. I am grateful for another game.”
Follow @Koiki_Sport Follow @ALOST_Official
