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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryce Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns — two of them coming in the fourth quarter — and forced three turnovers by Carolina Panthers’ Matthew Stafford to beat Los Angeles 31-28 on Sunday and snap the Rams’ six-figure winning streak.
The Panthers had two interceptions Stafford Mike Jackson returned for a 48-yard touchdown and ended a 37-year NFL record streak of 28 straight TD passes without an interception.
Derrick Brown, who tipped a ball that resulted in one of Stafford’s two picks, came up with a key layup with 2:25 left in the game to preserve the victory.
The victory allowed the Panthers to remain a half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South. The Bucs beat Arizona 20-17 on Sunday.
Stafford completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards with two touchdown passes to Devante Adams, his 13th and 14th of the season, for the Rams (9-3).
The Panthers (7-6), who had the longest passing game of more than 20 yards in Monday night’s 20-9 loss to San Francisco, got several key receptions from Young on Sunday.
He completed a 35-yard TD pass to Chuba Hubbard, a 33-yard TD strike to Jalen Coker and a 43-yard scoring toss to Tetirua McMillan with 6:43 remaining for the decisive score.
The Panthers used a strong running game to control the clock in the second half and keep Stafford and the high-powered offense off the field. Hubbard was 83 yards faster than Rico Dowdle added 58.
The Panthers led 24-21 entering the fourth quarter and looked in control running the ball well.
But tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders was flagged for a key holding call in Rams territory and the Panthers drive stalled resulting in a punt.
The Rams’ offense came alive as Blake Corum broke free down the right sideline for a 34-yard run. Puka Nacua then made a dramatic, one-handed 30-yard catch to set up a 7-yard TD pass to Karyn Williams to give Los Angeles the lead.
But Carolina responded when McMillan got behind the Rams’ defense and hauled in his only catch of the game — a 43-yard touchdown to Young — on a fourth-and-2 play to give Carolina a comeback.
Earlier in the game, Young found Coker for a long score on fourth-and-3.
Stafford passed Matt Ryan for eighth place all-time in passing yards.
Stafford threw his NFL-record 28th straight touchdown pass without an interception to Adams on the opening possession of the game to give the Rams a 7–0 lead, but on the second possession Brown tipped his pass and Nick Scott intercepted it in the end zone.
Rams: Karin Williams battled through a groin injury, but stayed in the game.
Saints: Sunday at Arizona.
Panthers: Have a bye next weekend, then play at New Orleans on Dec. 14.
