Rams miraculous victory opens door for doubts as LA advances to face Seahawks

The 12-5 Los Angeles Rams won their Wild Card Round in the NFL Playoffs, but this was much closer than anyone expected. Well, some were not fooled by the ridiculous odds. After all, Los Angeles was merely 5-4 on the road this season, and one of the losses came at the hands of the 8-9 Carolina Panthers.

This was a game of two halves. In the first half, LA had its way with the Panthers. But in the second half, the Panthers regained the lead: Not once, but twice. In the process, Carolina reminded the Horns that they struggle on special teams, shutting down opposing offenses as the game winds down, and avoiding turnovers.

This season was a gauntlet of tough teams on the schedule. And it was a good thing, as the adversity and challenges of the season forged the teamwork needed to rebound after losing the lead twice. If it takes an entire team to lose a game, it certainly needed an entire team to win this one.

Matthew Stafford is the 4th quarter comeback king

As the game went on, fans realized the only hope to win this one was for the football to be in veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford's hands as time ran out. And with just 2:39 remaining in the game, and trailing by a score of 31-27, the offense retook the football field on their own 29-yard line.

Stafford led the offense down the football field for the game-winning touchdown in just two minutes and one second. It was a passing strategy, with Stafford completing six of seven passes for 71 yards. The scoring play was a 19-yard touchdown reception by tight end Colby Parkinson.

Both teams had two turnovers in this one. Chris Shula's gang had an interception and a fumble recovery. Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero's crew had an interception and a blocked punt. It was all LA's way early in the game, as a failed fourth-quarter attempt with time running out in the first half kept Carolina alive.

Had the LA Rams opted to kick a field goal, the score would have been 20-7 at halftime, rather than a razor's edge margin of 17-14. That narrowing of the score allowed Carolina to thrill the crowd by fighting back to take the lead twice in the game.

The offense proved to win the day. But the defense played poorly down the stretch, and multiple defensive backs were shaken up during the game. But Los Angeles knows that, barring upsets throughout the weekend, they will travel to nearby Seattle to face the Seahawks in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.

If you loved the excitement in this one, you will be floored at the competitiveness in that game.

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