CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Humility, as Sean McVay likes to say, is only a day away.
The Rams lived it on Sunday.
The Carolina Panthers defeated the Rams, 31-28, before 71,292 at Bank of America Stadium, ending the Rams’ six-game winning streak, dropping their record to 9-3 and knocking them out of the top seed in the NFC.
The Rams could not overcome three turnovers, including Matthew Stafford’s first interceptions since a Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and a fumble by Stafford on a strip sack with less than three minutes left.
Stafford passed for two touchdowns and Kyren Williams and Blake Corum each rushed for touchdowns, but the Rams ultimately were not able to overcome their mistakes.
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passed for three touchdowns to lead a Panthers team that improved to 7-6.
Stafford’s streak of eight games without an interception ended on a day he moved past Matt Ryan into eighth place on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage list.
Stafford connected with receiver Davante Adams for touchdown pass plays of four and seven yards and Corum rushed for a touchdown to give the Rams a 21-17 halftime lead.
On the first possession of the second half, Young tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jalen Coker, putting the Panthers ahead.
With rain beginning to fall, the Rams went three and out, and their winning streak appeared to be in real jeopardy.
But the Rams got the ball early in the fourth quarter, and Corum’s 34-yard run and Puka Nacua’s spectacular one-handed catch for a 31-yard gain set up Williams’ seven-yard touchdown run for a 28-24 lead.
But Young answered with a 43-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tetairoa McMillan for a 31-28 lead with 6:34 left.
The Rams then began a march that advanced the ball to the Panthers’ 17-yard line. But on third down, the Rams were penalized for delay of game. On the next play, Derrick Brown sacked Stafford and knocked the ball from his grasp.
Panthers linebacker D.J. Wonnum recovered the fumble, and the Panthers managed to run out the clock after Young connected on a 10-yard pass to Coker for a first down.
Stafford completed 18 of 28 passes for 243 yards.
Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards.
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