The energy in Bank of America Stadium last Saturday was something else. Seriously. If you were looking for the score to the Carolina Panthers game, the final number on the jumbotron—34-31 in favor of the Los Angeles Rams—doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story of what happened in Charlotte.
It was a gut-punch. Plain and simple.
Dave Canales had this team believing. After clawing their way to an 8-9 record and somehow snagging the NFC South title, the Panthers weren't just "happy to be there." They almost pulled off the upset of the decade. But in the end, Matthew Stafford did Matthew Stafford things, and Carolina’s magical season hit a brick wall right at the finish line.
Breaking Down the Score to the Carolina Panthers Game
Let’s talk about that fourth quarter. Honestly, it was a mess of emotions. Carolina was actually leading 31-27 with just under three minutes left on the clock.
Bryce Young had just found Jalen Coker for a 7-yard touchdown that sent the crowd into a literal frenzy. You could feel the stadium shaking. It felt like the "Keep Pounding" mantra had finally manifested into a playoff win. But 2:39 is a lifetime when you’re facing a veteran like Stafford.
The Rams marched 71 yards. It was surgical. Stafford went 6-for-7 on that final drive, eventually finding Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard touchdown with only 38 seconds left. Just like that, the lead evaporated. 34-31. The Panthers had one last gasp, but a dropped pass on fourth down by Jimmy Horn Jr. sealed the deal.
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How the Scoring Happened
If you missed the play-by-play, the momentum swung like a pendulum. Carolina actually looked buried early on.
- The Slow Start: The Rams jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Puka Nacua was everywhere, scoring both through the air and on the ground.
- The Fight Back: Chuba Hubbard, who has been a absolute workhorse this year, punched in a 1-yarder. Then Bryce Young showed some legs with a 16-yard TD scramble right before half.
- The Lead Change: Hubbard scored again early in the fourth to give Carolina their first lead at 24-20.
- The Blocked Punt: Late in the game, Isaiah Simmons blocked a punt that set up the Coker touchdown. It felt like destiny.
Why This 34-31 Loss Actually Matters
A lot of people are going to look at the score to the Carolina Panthers game and say, "Typical Panthers, they couldn't close it out."
That’s a lazy take.
Think about where this franchise was a year ago. They were the basement of the NFL. This year, they won the division. They hosted a playoff game. Bryce Young finished the regular season with over 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. He proved he belongs. General Manager Dan Morgan already announced the team is picking up Young’s fifth-year option for 2027, which tells you all you need to know about their confidence level.
The defense, led by guys like Jaycee Horn, kept them in games they had no business winning. Even with Patrick Jones out with that herniated disk surgery, the unit played with a chip on its shoulder.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025-26 Season
There’s this narrative that the NFC South was "trash" and that's the only reason Carolina made it. Sure, the records weren't 13-4, but look at the competition. The Panthers beat these same Rams 31-28 back in Week 13. They weren't a fluke.
They played a style of "Benardrick McKinney-era" gritty football—leaning on the run and taking shots when necessary. Chuba Hubbard finished the playoff game with two rushing touchdowns and 106 yards. He's officially a top-tier back in this league now.
The Financial Reality Moving Forward
Now that the season is over, the front office has work to do. They’re sitting on a projected $26.5 million commitment to Young for his fifth year. That’s a big chunk of change. They also have to figure out how to replace the veteran presence of guys like Adam Thielen, who just announced his retirement after 13 seasons.
It’s the end of an era for the wide receiver room, and the draft (where they pick 18th) is going to be crucial.
What’s Next for the Panthers?
If you're a fan, the sting of the 34-31 score to the Carolina Panthers game is going to linger for a few weeks. It should. Losing at home in the Wild Card round sucks.
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But the foundation is finally solid. Canales has a system that works for Bryce. The offensive line, despite Ikem Ekwonu’s patellar tendon injury in the playoff loss, showed massive improvement over 2024.
Basically, the "rebuild" is over. We’re in the "contender" phase now.
Actionable Next Steps for Panthers Fans:
- Watch the Draft Order: Keep an eye on the 18th overall pick. With Thielen retiring, expect the Panthers to target a high-end X-receiver or more help for the pass rush.
- Monitor Ekwonu’s Rehab: His recovery timeline will dictate how the Panthers approach free agency for the offensive line.
- Check the Divisional Round: Since the Rams beat Carolina, they move on to face the Chicago Bears this Sunday. If you want a bit of "what if" scouting, that's the game to watch.
The season is done, but for the first time in a long time, the future in Charlotte doesn't look like a total disaster. Keep pounding.