The Rams' playoff win was dirty.Can they keep winning like this?- Los Angeles Times

The Rams' upset playoff win over Carolina raises questions about their Super Bowl readiness, but no one should question the importance of Matthew Stafford.

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The Rams' dramatic 34-31 wild card win over the Carolina Panthers should make things easier for them.

- Matthew Stafford continues to show why he's important to the Rams' success, pulling off a game-winning drive despite playing with an injured arm.

-The Rams committed penalties, dropped passes and messed up the coverage on special teams.

The best is almost chest.

Heavy favorites have fallen under their own weight.

The Rams were nearly eliminated from the playoffs, barely surviving what should have been a blowout, sweating profusely during a wild playoff game that should have been a breeze, and now you're wondering.

If their first step to the Super Bowl is going to be this awkward, how much longer can they stay upright?

At first glance, the final score is all that matters, this 34-31 playoff victory over the Carolina Panthers at Charlotte Bank of America Stadium was a mental test victory that will provide a strong preparation for the challenges ahead.

Upon further investigation, it was just plain confusing.

Matthew Stafford connects with Colby Parkinson on a 19-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to seal a 34-31 wild-card playoff victory over Carolina.

The Rams swept across the country as a historic 10½-point favorite — the largest postseason spread in modern history — but trudged home, needing a last-second touchdown pass from an unflinching Matthew Stafford to a leaping Colby Parkinson.

It's amazing, it's not necessary at all.

At the end, Rams coach Sean McVay yelled, fist raised, 'Is he happy or relieved?'It's hard to say, but I'm guessing it's both.

McVay later said, "We're going to have to play better if we hope to get past the first round.""But never take it for granted... I'm grateful to spend another week with this team that I love."

This is a team that everyone likes, or, at least, likes.

The Rams scored the first two touchdowns of the game and seemed headed for the expected loss.A 12-win powerhouse suddenly looked like an uncertain team that had lost two of its last three when it was favored here to win the Super Bowl.

The team with the fewest penalties in the last five years made 83 yards worth of penalties.Puka Nacua made sure to throw a touchdown pass.The righty Stafford hit his hand on the helmet and missed seven straight pass attempts by one point, his longest streak as a Ram.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua scored two touchdowns in their wild-card win over the Panthers, but his biggest contribution came when he blocked a reception.

Yes, the special teams coordinator fired again in the middle of the season on special teams, blocking a late punt that gave the Panthers a field goal with 2:39 left.

"There were a lot of moments where we should have been more calm, and that was my reflection," McVay said."Despite all that, we found a way to deliver the best at the most important time."

The last of those moments belonged again to Stafford, who went six of seven for 71 yards in the final two minutes of the drive in which four different receivers were caught, including the underutilized Konata Mumpfield.Yes, Konata Mumpfield, and don't you dare say Stafford shouldn't win his first MVP award.

Derek Meyer?Are you kidding me?Not even East Coast bias can detract from the greatness of a player who was outstanding late in the game, though Naku knocked the ball away from Nick Scott in the fourth quarter, preventing a second interception and possibly saving the game.

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Gary Klein broke down what went right for the Rams in their 34-31 wild card playoff win over the Carolina Panthers.

Imagine that.During a game in which he caught 10 passes for 111 yards and scored twice, Nacua's biggest play was an incompletion.

"That pass breakup was incredible," McVay said."That's what great players do."

Once again, the best Saturday belonged to Stafford, who threw for 304 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, while once again proving how much the fact that he is the most important athlete on the sports field of Los Angeles is overlooked.Can the Dodgers win without Shohei Ohtani?Perhaps.Can the Rams win without Stafford?No way.

"He was in total command, total control," McVay said."He did MVP-type things."

The Panthers had one last chance, but the Rams' dismal defense held them without a single yard on the final four plays, ending hopes of what would be one of the greatest upsets in NFL postseason history.

"Proud of the way we finished, happy to be able to clean up a lot of things," McVay said.

The first thing that needs to be cleaned is Stafford's right hand, as he admitted that a finger was bent back painfully during a backfield collision with D.J.Wonnum.

"It's not good, it's not good, we'll see what it is," Stafford said."I was obviously able to finish the game and throw it decently."

Before the finger injury, Stafford was 10-for-15. After the injury, he was 14-for-27. Do the math.

Stafford is one of the toughest quarterbacks ever — you can watch old Detroit Lions videos for proof — and I'm guessing he won't even mention it this week.He did shake his hand during the game, though, so you know it's a factor.

"He jumped up, you could see he was shaking, but the next game he made a really good throw," McVay said, adding later."We talk a lot about our scars and our strengths."

Our scars are our strength.McVay says that's plenty, which is good, because the Rams could leave this weekend as the team with the most scars in the playoffs.

Does it make them stronger?

Can't wait.Can't watch.