The energy in Charlotte was unlike anything we've seen in nearly a decade. For a second, it felt like the old days. But if you’re looking for the final score of the carolina panthers football game from the 2025-2026 postseason, the number isn't exactly what fans wanted to see on the Jumbotron.
The Carolina Panthers fell to the Los Angeles Rams with a final score of 31-34 in the NFC Wild Card round on January 10, 2026.
It was a heartbreaker. Honestly, it was a game that summarized the entire "Cardiac Cats" era in a single afternoon. One minute you're up, the next you're wondering how the secondary let a deep ball slip through. Bank of America Stadium was rocking, the first home playoff game since 2015, and the atmosphere was electric. But a late-game surge by Matthew Stafford and the Rams' offense proved to be just enough to edge out Dave Canales’ squad.
The Wild Card Score: What Really Happened
Basically, this game was a shootout that nobody expected. The Panthers entered the playoffs as the NFC South champions—a title they clinched with an 8-9 record. Yeah, you read that right. They made history as the first team to win two division titles with a losing record. Some critics called them "lucky," especially since they needed an Atlanta Falcons win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 18 to even get in.
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But on that Saturday in January, they played like they belonged.
The score stayed tight throughout. Carolina’s offense, led by the growth of Bryce Young, found rhythm early. They put up 31 points against a formidable Rams defense. In most playoff games, 31 points gets you a handshake and a trip to the Divisional Round. Not this time. The Panthers' defense, which had been scrappy all year under Ejiro Evero, just couldn't find the "stop" button when it mattered most in the fourth quarter.
A Season of Weird Scores and Close Calls
If you look back at the score of the carolina panthers football game results from the regular season, you see a pattern of high-stress finishes.
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- Week 11 at Atlanta: A 30-27 overtime win that kept the season alive.
- Week 13 vs. LA Rams: They actually beat the Rams 31-28 in the regular season. That’s what made the playoff loss hurt so much—they knew they could beat this team.
- Week 18 at Tampa Bay: A 14-16 loss that almost cost them everything.
The final record of 8-9 doesn't tell the full story. This was a team that lost games 40-9 to Buffalo and 42-13 to New England, yet somehow found the grit to shut out the Falcons 30-0 in Week 3. It was a rollercoaster. A weird, frustrating, beautiful rollercoaster.
Why the Panthers' Scoring Struggles Mattered
Throughout 2025, the Panthers averaged about 18.3 points per game. That ranked them 27th in the league. You can't win big in the NFL if you aren't crossing the goal line consistently. While the playoff game saw a scoring explosion, the season-long struggle to find the end zone is why they finished under .500.
The defense was the real hero for most of the year. They ranked middle-of-the-pack (15th) in points allowed, but they were often gassed because the offense couldn't stay on the field. Jaycee Horn played like a man possessed, earning a Pro Bowl nod and proving why he’s one of the best shut-down corners in the game. But football is a team sport.
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When the score of the carolina panthers football game was low, Carolina usually won. When it turned into a track meet, they struggled to keep pace.
Looking Toward 2026
The 2026 opponents are already set. Because they won the division (regardless of the record), they have to play a "first-place schedule" next year. That means home games against the Seahawks and Broncos, and tough road trips to face the Eagles and Packers.
The front office under Dan Morgan has its work cut out. They need more weapons. They need more consistency. Most importantly, they need to figure out how to turn those 14-16 losses into 17-16 wins.
To keep up with the latest stats or find a specific score of the carolina panthers football game from the past season, fans should keep a close eye on the official NFL game logs. The team is heading into the 2026 offseason with more confidence than they've had in years, but the sting of that 34-31 loss will be the primary motivator in the locker room.
The next step for any Panthers fan is to watch the 2026 NFL Draft closely. Carolina needs to bolster the offensive line to give Bryce Young more than two seconds to breathe. If they can add a vertical threat in the first two rounds, that 18.3 points-per-game average is going to jump significantly. Focus on the scouting reports for interior linemen and "X" receivers coming out of the SEC this spring.