Just 15 minutes left in the first wildcard game of the weekend and we've got a real battle on our hands here folks!

The Rams threatened to run away with it early but the Panthers defence has bitten back with a sack and an interception and some constant pressure on Matthew Stafford.

Which way will this go now?

Greg Olsen
Former NFL tight end on Fox Sports

On the first couple of drives, Matt Stafford stood back there and had all the time in the world.

In the last quarter and a half, the pressure's really picked up and this Carolina defence is playing out of their mind.

And it is a momentum shift! As Bryce Young then finds Jalen Coker over the middle and he gathers the ball before steaming away for a 52-yard gain that sends the Charlotte crowd wild.

It goes from bad to worse for Matthew Stafford as his throw directed at Davante Adams is intercepted by Mike Jackson.

Jackson, who had a pick six off Stafford earlier in the season, has been incredible so far and that interception could be a huge momentum shift,

Matthew Stafford goes down for the first time tonight as Travis Gipson gets the sack when Carolina invade the backfield and don't bite on the play-action.

Image source, Getty Images

But it's no good as the Panthers are now 0-2 on fourth downs tonight with Bryce Young flushed out of the pocket under pressure and given nowhere to go.

He avoids being sacked but his pass attempt hits the floor as the Rams get the ball back near midfield.

Carolina are going for it again on fourth down from just inside the Rams half - they're the best fourth-down side in the league remember and actually scored two touchdowns on fourth down when they beat the Rams earlier this season.

Image source, Getty Images

This is what the play-offs are all about now. A Carolina side 10-point underdogs with a losing season record who sneaked into the play-offs are more than holding their own against the 12-5 Rams with the possible MVP quarterback.

The Panthers defence is the key yet again, putting Matthew Stafford under a ton of pressure ans he's not yet found a way to deal with it.

Field goal - Ramspublished at 23:48 GMT 10 January

23:48 GMT 10 January

Los Angeles Rams 20-17 Carolina Panthers

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Stafford tries to find Puka Nacua in the end zone but Mike Jackson again is excellent in coverage so the Rams have to settle for a field goal.

Harrison Mevis nails it from 42 yards away despite the posts starting to wobble in the increasing wind in Charlotte.

The Rams go back in front but this is a genuine play-off battle now as Carolina has put the breaks on this Rams offence who are finding every yard a lot tougher to earn this half.

Wow, Davante Adams get's laid out on the sideline after a monster hit by Nick Scott as he comes down from taking a catch high in the air from a majestic leap.

A flag comes in though as it's a helmet-to-helmet hit by the Panthers defender and that's a nailed-on unnecessary roughness and 15-yard penalty.

There's a bit of argy-bargy on the field and a load of boos coming down from the fans but it's a pretty clear penalty that one.

Davante Adams with just his second catch of the game but it's a big one, going for 19 yards and converting on third down for just the second time in the game.

It also ends the longest run of incomplete passes in Stafford's career with the Rams.

Another miss from Matthew Stafford as he fires over a diving Puka Nacua to bring up another third down. Worrying stuff for the Rams as their star QB has completed just two of 18 pass attempts after starting eight for eight.

Field goal - Panthers levelpublished at 23:34 GMT 10 January

23:34 GMT 10 January

Los Angeles Rams 17-17 Carolina Panthers

Tommy Tremble is brought down short on third down so, despite Carolina being the best fourth-down team in the league, Dave Canales plays it safe and sends rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald out to kick a 46 yarder.

Image source, Getty Images

Chuba Hubbard lowers the shoulder move the chains again - Carolina looking like they're trying more of the ground and pound run game this half to try and get some control of the ball and the clock.

It worked in the first meeting that they won earlier this season.

A sixth penalty given away by the Rams already tonight - a team that's hardly given any away all season just feeling it a bit in the play-off atmosphere.

Nice scramble again from Bryce Young early on, Chuba Hubbard takes advantage to move the sticks with a six-yard run.

Then Young fires a dart down the field to Tetairoa McMillan on a crossing route for 16 yards - he's only 5ft10in is Bryce Young and you can from the end zone angle of coverage just how hard it is for him to see over the huge linemen on either side.

He hits a nice throw though in a nice start.

Image source, Getty Images

Poor start to the half for Matthew Stafford, who has completed just two of 12 passes after hitting his first eight.

He targets Davante Adams twice but both Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson defend him really well on either side of the field.

And that means the Rams have to punt it away after the worst possible start.

Greg Olsen
Former NFL tight end on Fox Sports

It felt like the Rams were about to run away with it but next thing you know, they go for it on fourth down and fail, then there's Puka Nacua's drop.

Each team is kind of trading mistakes and alternating issues and penalties, so they're gonna want to clean that up in the second half.

The Rams get the ball to start the second half as we get back to the acion.