Bryce Young on Sunday threw three touchdowns as the Carolina Panthers upset the in-form Los Angeles Rams 31-28 with the NFL playoff race tightening.
Panthers quarterback Young — coming off a poor performance in a dismal defeat to the San Francisco 49ers — tossed two daring second-half touchdowns on fourth down to give Carolina a precious win in what promises to be a hectic final sprint for post-season places.
The Rams, who boasted the best record in the National Football Conference heading into Sunday’s duel in Charlotte, were left ruing mistakes at key moments.
Photo: AP
Quarterback Matthew Stafford gave up a first-quarter interception that Panthers defender Mike Jackson returned for a touchdown before a costly fourth-quarter fumble effectively sealed the Rams’ defeat.
It left the Rams at 9-3 at the top of the National Football Conference West, while the Panthers improved to 7-6 to stay hard on the heels of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football Conference South.
The Bucs remain top of the division after a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams looked poised to extend their six-game winning streak early in the fourth quarter when Stafford led a superb 89-yard touchdown drive to help give the visitors a 28-24 lead.
That scoring drive included an astonishing one-handed catch from Rams receiver Puka Nacua that set up a close-range rushing touchdown for Kyren Williams on the next play.
However, Young responded with a gutsy 43-yard touchdown completion on fourth down to find Tetairoa McMillan, which gave the hosts what turned out to be a decisive 31-28 lead after Stafford’s late fumble.
Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft who has struggled to find consistent form in his first three seasons, said he never had any doubt about attempting to convert his two fourth-down touchdown passes.
“I just trust my guys. There’s no big conversation, no big hoo-rah,” Young said. “I know these guys are always ready... I know who they are. I know the competitors they are. No matter what, I’ll always have confidence in them, so that’ll never change.”
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills muscled their way to a 26-7 road win over Pittsburgh in a defeat that left Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers bloodied and bruised.
A miserable afternoon for Rodgers was summed up in a brutal sack by the Bills’ Joey Bosa, which saw the veteran slammed face first into the turf before fumbling to allow Buffalo’s Christian Benford to race in for a touchdown.
The win saw Buffalo improve to 8-4 in the American Football Conference (AFC) East, where they are chasing the New England Patriots (10-2), who were to host the New York Giants yesterday.
“We’ve got to find a way of winning these football games in this cold, winter type of night against a tough AFC North opponent — and we found a way,” Bills quarterback Allen said.
American Football Conference West leaders Denver improved to 10-2 with a nail-biting 27-26 overtime victory over the lowly Washington Commanders.
Broncos linebacker Nick Bonitto sealed Denver’s ninth straight win, swatting away Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota’s attempted two-point conversion pass on the final play.
Denver’s rookie running back R.J. Harvey ran for a five-yard touchdown on the opening possession of overtime. Mariota then drove Washington 65 yards on 11 plays on a scoring drive capped by a three-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin.
Washington coach Dan Quinn opted to go for two points and a win rather than an extra-point kick, but Bonitto batted down Mariota’s pass and the Broncos escaped, the Commanders suffering their seventh straight defeat.
The San Francisco 49ers eased past the struggling Cleveland Browns 26-8 to remain firmly in the playoff hunt, improving to 9-4 in a three-way battle for the National Football Conference West title.
The Rams lead the division just ahead of the Seattle Seahawks, who improved to 9-3 with a 26-0 shutout of the Minnesota Vikings.
The 49ers are third.
The Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4) are also closing in on a playoff spot after a 25-3 win over the Tennessee Titans. The victory vaulted the Jaguars into top spot in the American Football Conference South after the Indianapolis Colts suffered a 20-16 reverse against the Houston Texans.
Elsewhere, the Jets downed the Falcons 27-24, the Dolphins sank the Saints 21-17 and the Chargers crushed the Raiders 31-14.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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