The Carolina Panthers’ decision to take risks on fourth down resulted in two key touchdowns during their 31-28 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium. The game, played in heavy rain, saw the Panthers convert critical fourth downs that contributed directly to their victory.
On their first drive of the second half, trailing by four points and facing a fourth-and-3 from the Rams’ 33-yard line, quarterback Bryce Young opted for a pass instead of a run. He targeted Jalen Coker, who managed to get separation from Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes—who had not allowed a touchdown in coverage since Week 4. Coker described the play: “As soon as I was able to get a little separation, I knew that if the ball did come, then I would have made a play on it and been able to score. He was press coverage, just try to create separation quickly, use my bigger size to kind of move him a little bit, and just come down with the football, and I wasn’t going to be denied that one.”
Coker continued: “It was a perfect pass. It fell right in my hands, and I was able to make a play on it.” He added about scoring his first touchdown of the season: “I didn’t even feel him until I was getting tackled in the end zone… I was just hyped. I was just excited. Just kind of takes me back to Week 1 when I’m out and hurt and I just, all that stuff that’s been building up, and then to finally get in the end zone and celebrate, it was good.”
This score gave Carolina a 24-21 lead in what became a close contest.
Later in the game, after falling behind again by four points following another Rams touchdown, Carolina faced another crucial fourth down from the Rams’ 43-yard line with under ten minutes left. The Panthers have attempted more fourth-down conversions than any other team this season (30) and are tied with Kansas City for most successful conversions (21). Both teams converted all three attempts during Week 13.
On this occasion—fourth-and-2—Young found rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan across the middle for a 43-yard touchdown. McMillan commented: “Shoot, I mean, it was a fourth down, so I had to make a play or somebody on the field had to make a play. So, I’m just fortunate enough that the ball came to me and we was able to take the lead from there.”
The touchdown marked Young’s 11th career game-winning drive—the most by an NFL quarterback under age 25—and helped secure Carolina’s win.
Young completed eight of ten passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns on third or fourth downs during the game. He is only the second quarterback since 2016 with multiple fourth-down touchdown passes traveling more than ten air yards in one game; Joe Flacco achieved this earlier in his Bengals debut this season.
Despite facing one of the league’s top pass rushes this year, Young faced only seven pressures—the second consecutive week he has seen fewer than ten.
“I just trust my guys,” said Young after the game. “I’m super grateful to have guys like that on the perimeter that I trust in need-to-have situations… We have a ton of competitors; they did a great job of getting those balls and putting themselves in those situations on those fourth downs.”
McMillan noted: “Obviously, coming to this game, the Rams have been phenomenal both offensively and defensively… So I mean it’s the fact that both touchdowns happened on—or two touchdowns happened on fourth down, it just speaks to the confidence that we have in our room and in our offense, and also as well as the confidence that Bryce has in us to make plays.”
Head coach Dave Canales explained his approach: “Well, the who you’re playing matters, and certainly with the Rams and the high-powered offense that they have, it makes me a little bit more aggressive.”
The Panthers sealed their win when Young connected with Coker again for ten yards on third-and-5 late in regulation before taking victory formation.
Coker summarized his performance: “I think I was just playing fast, playing confident, and just not letting anything affect me… So just continue to play my football and not be wavered by anything else.”
