The Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers have played two tight games in the last year. Both ended by a single score. One went to Carolina in the regular season. The other went to Los Angeles in the playoffs.
This guide breaks down the player stats from both games. You will find passing, rushing and receiving numbers, team totals, and simple tips on how to read a box score. Every figure comes from published box scores and game recaps.
Rams vs Panthers Matchup at a Glance
The two teams met twice in the 2025 season window. The first game was on November 30, 2025, in Charlotte. The second was the NFC Wild Card game on January 10, 2026, also in Charlotte. Both games were decided by three points or fewer.
The Panthers won the first meeting 31-28. The Rams won the rematch 34-31. That is a 62-59 edge for Carolina in total points across the two games, but Los Angeles moved on in the playoffs. That is the result that mattered most.
| Game | Date | Final Score | Winner | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | Nov 30, 2025 | Panthers 31, Rams 28 | Carolina | Ended the Rams’ six-game win streak |
| NFC Wild Card | Jan 10, 2026 | Rams 34, Panthers 31 | Los Angeles | Late touchdown pass sealed the win |
Both games were close from start to finish. Quarterback play, red zone plays and turnovers decided them.
Wild Card Game Recap: Rams 34, Panthers 31
The Rams entered the playoff game as 10.5-point favorites. They finished the year 13-5 after the win. Carolina ended its season at 8-10. It was the Panthers’ first playoff game since the 2017 season, and they made the Rams work for it.
Carolina pushed back all night. The Panthers trailed, then took the lead, then trailed again. Los Angeles needed a late drive to win. Matthew Stafford found Kyren Williams for a 13-yard touchdown to retake the lead. Later, he hit tight end Colby Parkinson for the go-ahead score.
The game stayed tense until the final whistle. Both offenses moved the ball. Both quarterbacks made big throws. The difference came down to a few key plays late in the fourth quarter.
Matthew Stafford Passing Stats
Stafford was the main driver of the Rams offense. He finished 24 of 42 for 304 yards. He threw three touchdown passes and one interception. His passer rating was about 93.8. He was sacked once for a loss of 9 yards.
He also earned All-Pro honors earlier that same day. That is a nice bit of context for a veteran who played with poise in a hostile building. He spread the ball around and trusted his top targets.
| Stat | Matthew Stafford (LAR) |
|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 24 / 42 |
| Passing Yards | 304 |
| Touchdown Passes | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Sacks Taken | 1 (9 yards) |
| Rushing | 2 carries, 0 yards |
| Passer Rating | 93.8 |
His three touchdown passes went to three different players. Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams and Colby Parkinson each caught one. That balance made the Rams hard to defend.
Bryce Young Passing Stats
Bryce Young kept Carolina in the game from start to finish. Box scores list him at 21 of 40 for 264 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown, which gave the Panthers a second way to score.
Young was also sharp in the regular season meeting. On November 30, he completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores came on fourth down. That game showed how well he can play when the pocket stays clean.
| Stat | Bryce Young, Wild Card | Bryce Young, Nov 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts | 21 / 40 | 15 / 20 |
| Passing Yards | 264 | 206 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 1 | 3 |
| Rushing | 1 rushing TD | 5 carries, 23 yards |
The contrast is clear. He was more efficient in the first game. He had to throw more in the second. In both, he gave his team a real chance late.
Rams Rushing Stats
The Rams used a two-back approach in the playoff game. Kyren Williams led the team with 13 carries for 57 yards. Blake Corum added 11 carries for 45 yards. Both backs averaged just over four yards a carry.
Puka Nacua also got involved on the ground. He carried three times for 14 yards and scored a touchdown. Stafford had two short carries that went nowhere. The ground game was not flashy, but it kept Carolina from pinning its ears back.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyren Williams | 13 | 57 | 4.4 | 0 | 8 |
| Blake Corum | 11 | 45 | 4.1 | 0 | 8 |
| Puka Nacua | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 1 | 5 |
| Matthew Stafford | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 |
The November game told a different story. Corum had 7 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, including a 34-yard run. Williams had 13 carries for 72 yards and a score. The Rams ran well in both games.
Panthers Rushing Stats
Chuba Hubbard was the lead back for Carolina in the playoff game. He ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns. His second score came after a big catch by Jalen Coker set up the Panthers deep in Rams territory.
In the regular season game, Hubbard had a bigger yardage day. He carried 17 times for 83 yards. Rico Dowdle added 18 carries for 58 yards. That one-two punch helped Carolina control the clock. The Panthers held the ball for more than 35 minutes in that game.
- Wild Card: Hubbard had 13 carries for 46 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Wild Card: Young added 3 carries for 24 yards and a score.
- Nov 30: Hubbard had 17 carries for 83 yards.
- Nov 30: Dowdle had 18 carries for 58 yards.
Carolina won the time of possession battle in the first game by a wide margin. That kept the Rams offense on the sideline.
Receiving Stats and Top Pass Catchers
The receiving numbers were the real story of the playoff game. Both teams had players who stepped up. Nacua saw the most targets of anyone. Coker had the most yards.
Here is how the top pass catchers lined up in the Wild Card game.
| Player | Team | Targets | Catches | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Coker | CAR | 12 | 9 | 134 | 1 |
| Puka Nacua | LAR | 18 | 10 | 111 | 1 |
| Tetairoa McMillan | CAR | 7 | 5 | 81 | 0 |
| Davante Adams | LAR | 13 | 5 | 72 | 0 |
| Tyler Higbee | LAR | 3 | 2 | 45 | 0 |
| Colby Parkinson | LAR | 3 | 2 | 34 | 1 |
| Kyren Williams | LAR | 2 | 2 | 18 | 1 |
| Blake Corum | LAR | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
| Konata Mumpfield | LAR | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
The Rams spread the ball to eight pass catchers. Carolina leaned on a smaller group. Coker and McMillan did most of the damage for the Panthers.
Puka Nacua: The Rams Offensive Engine
Nacua was involved on almost every important drive. He caught 10 passes on 18 targets for 111 yards. He also scored a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown. That gave him two total touchdowns.
Eighteen targets is a huge number. It shows how much the Rams trust him. Stafford looked his way on third downs, in the red zone, and when the offense needed a spark.
Nacua had a first down on seven of his catches. That kind of steady output keeps drives alive. Davante Adams added five catches for 72 yards as the second option. Together, they gave Los Angeles a strong receiving duo.
Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan: Carolina’s Big Plays
Jalen Coker had a career night. He caught nine passes for 134 yards and a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Both numbers were career highs. His nine catches are the third most in a postseason game in Panthers history.
Next Gen Stats tracked Coker at a top speed of 20.74 miles per hour on a 52-yard catch and run. That play came on the last snap of the third quarter. It flipped field position and set up a scoring chance.
Rookie Tetairoa McMillan added five catches for 81 yards. In the regular season game, he caught the 43-yard touchdown that gave Carolina the lead with 6:34 left. He has quickly become a go-to target in big moments.
Team Stats from the Panthers’ 31-28 Win
The first meeting offers a useful look at how Carolina won. The Panthers forced three turnovers and committed none. They also dominated possession. Those two numbers explain most of the result.
| Team Stat | Rams | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 379 | 358 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| First Downs | 22 | 17 |
| Third Down | 2 of 5 | 7 of 15 |
| Fourth Down | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
| Red Zone | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 |
| Penalties | 1 for 5 yards | 7 for 70 yards |
| Time of Possession | 24:44 | 35:16 |
The Rams gained more total yards. They still lost. Three turnovers cost them dearly. A 48-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mike Jackson was a major swing play.
Carolina went three for three on fourth down. That kind of aggression paid off. It also showed the team trusted Young to convert in tight spots.
How to Read Player Stats in Football
Box scores can look crowded. A few simple tips make them easier to read. Focus on a handful of numbers first, then go deeper if you want more detail.
Here are the main columns to check for each position.
- Quarterbacks: Look at completions, attempts, yards, touchdowns and interceptions. Passer rating gives a quick summary.
- Running backs: Check carries, yards, yards per carry and touchdowns. Long run shows big plays.
- Receivers: Compare targets, catches and yards. Targets show how much the offense trusts a player.
- Team stats: Turnovers, third down rate and time of possession often explain close games.
Stats also need context. A quarterback with fewer yards can still win if he avoids mistakes. A back with a low average can still help by scoring in the red zone. Always read the numbers next to the final score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers playoff game?
The Rams won 34-31 in the NFC Wild Card round on January 10, 2026. A late touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to Colby Parkinson sealed it.
How many yards did Matthew Stafford throw against the Panthers?
Stafford threw for 304 yards in the playoff game. He completed 24 of 42 passes with three touchdowns and one interception.
Who had the most receiving yards in the Rams vs Panthers playoff game?
Jalen Coker of the Panthers led all players with 134 yards on nine catches. Puka Nacua led the Rams with 111 yards.
How many touchdowns did Puka Nacua score against Carolina?
Nacua scored two touchdowns in the playoff game. One came on a catch and the other came on a short run.
What was Bryce Young’s stat line against the Rams?
In the playoff game, Young threw for 264 yards and one touchdown and ran for another score. In the November game, he threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
Who won the first Rams vs Panthers game of the season?
Carolina won 31-28 on November 30, 2025. The Panthers forced three Rams turnovers and ended Los Angeles’ six-game win streak.
Which running back had the best game in the Rams vs Panthers matchups?
Blake Corum had the best rushing day with 81 yards and a touchdown on seven carries in the November game. Chuba Hubbard scored two rushing touchdowns in the playoff game.
Final Thoughts
The Rams and Panthers gave fans two close, exciting games. Carolina won the first by winning the turnover battle and controlling the clock. Los Angeles won the second with a late drive and steady play from its veteran quarterback. In both games, a few plays made all the difference.
The player stats tell the full story. Stafford and Nacua powered the Rams. Young, Coker, McMillan and Hubbard kept Carolina in every game. If these teams meet again, watch the turnover count, the targets to top receivers, and third down success. Those numbers will likely decide the winner once more.
