The stadium was shaking. Bank of America Stadium hadn't felt that kind of electric, teeth-rattling energy in years. If you're wondering what's Carolina Panthers score from their latest outing, the number on the board at the final whistle was 31–34. They lost. But honestly, saying they just "lost" is like saying the Titanic had a minor plumbing issue. It was a Wild Card thriller against the Los Angeles Rams that basically encapsulated the entire roller-coaster 2025 season in sixty minutes of chaos.
For a team that finished the regular season with an 8–9 record, even being in that game felt like playing with house money. They won the NFC South—barely—in a division where everyone seemed to be trying to lose it at some point.
The Wild Card Heartbreak: Rams 34, Panthers 31
Last Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Panthers took the field for their first playoff game since 2017. Most experts gave them zero chance. The Rams came in as heavy favorites, and early on, it looked like they’d cruise. Matthew Stafford was doing Stafford things, finding Puka Nacua for two touchdowns that made the Carolina secondary look like they were running in sand.
But then Bryce Young started cooking.
It wasn't always pretty. He finished 21-of-40 for 264 yards, but his 16-yard scramble for a touchdown late in the game was pure grit. Jalen Coker, the rookie sensation who has basically become Young’s favorite target, was everywhere. He hauled in 9 catches for 134 yards and a score. For a minute there, when Coker caught a seven-yard TD to give the Panthers the lead, it felt like the upset was actually happening.
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Then the fourth quarter happened. Stafford led a clinical comeback, capped by a 19-yard touchdown to Colby Parkinson. The Panthers had one last gasp, but a late fumble—the kind that haunts your sleep—sealed the deal. Final score: 34–31, Rams.
A Season of "Wait, They Actually Won?"
To understand the context of what's Carolina Panthers score lately, you have to look at how weird this season was. They started 1–3. People were already calling for Dave Canales’ head and wondering if Dan Morgan had messed up the draft.
Then came the middle of the season.
- Week 6: A 30–27 nail-biter win over Dallas.
- Week 7: A defensive masterclass in a 13–6 win over the Jets.
- Week 11: A wild 30–27 overtime victory against the Falcons that kept their division hopes alive.
They weren't dominant. They were 27th in the league in scoring. Let that sink in. A team that barely averaged 18 points a game managed to host a playoff game. They did it with a defense led by Jaycee Horn and Ejiro Evero’s schemes that kept games close enough for Bryce Young to pull off some late-game magic.
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The Stats That Tell the Real Story
If you just look at the 8–9 record, you'd think this was a mediocre year. In some ways, it was. They were outscored by 69 points over the course of the season. Usually, teams with a negative point differential like that are picking in the top ten of the draft, not winning divisions.
But they were 10–7 against the spread. That tells you they were almost always more competitive than Vegas thought they’d be. They were "scrappy," a word coaches use when they don't have the most talent but have a lot of guys who don't know how to quit.
Looking at the Final Scores of the 2025 Stretch
The end of the regular season was a grind. If you missed the final three-week tallies, here is how they limped into the postseason:
- Week 17: Lost 10–27 to the Seahawks. This was a reality check. Seattle’s defense smothered everything Carolina tried to do.
- Week 18: Lost 14–16 to the Buccaneers. A soggy, ugly game in Tampa where a late Jalen Coker TD wasn't enough to overcome three Chase McLaughlin field goals.
- Wild Card: Lost 31–34 to the Rams. The best they looked all year, ironically in a loss.
What Happens Now?
The season is over, and the locker room is currently being cleaned out. Dan Morgan and Dave Canales held their postseason press conferences on January 16, and the message was clear: they aren't satisfied, but they're encouraged.
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The biggest news? The Panthers are officially picking up Bryce Young’s fifth-year option. He'll be under center through at least 2027. They've also signed 15 players to reserve/future contracts, mostly practice squad guys they want to develop.
Tetairoa McMillan, the rookie receiver who had 85 yards in the season finale, is a finalist for Rookie of the Year. He and Coker give the Panthers their first legitimate receiving duo in what feels like a decade.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the Panthers into the 2026 offseason, here is what you need to keep an eye on:
- The Draft Order: Because they made the playoffs, the Panthers won't be picking in the top ten. They’re locked into the back half of the first round.
- Injury Returns: Watch for Jonathon Brooks. The running back missed all of 2025 recovering from an ACL tear. If he's healthy for training camp, the run game (which was 19th in the league) gets a massive boost.
- Coaching Stability: Ejiro Evero is once again a hot name for head coaching vacancies. If the Panthers lose him, that top-15 defense might take a step back.
The 2025 season proved that the Panthers aren't the basement-dwellers of the NFL anymore. They're a flawed, gritty team that knows how to win ugly. Next year, the goal is to stop winning ugly and start winning convincingly.