Los Angeles Rams outlast Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earn opportunity to host NFC championship game

TAMPA — Matt Gay connected on a 30-yard field goal as time expired, and the Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 30-27, in a dramatic NFC divisional round playoff game Sunday.

Gay's kick capped a five-play, 63-yard drive, covering just 42 seconds of game clock, and stopped — once and for all — a furious Tampa Bay rally that saw the Buccaneers score 24 unanswered points.

Matthew Stafford, brought in during the offseason to change Los Angeles' fortunes in big games, was 28-of-38 for 366 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Stafford is now 2-0 in the postseason for his new club.

The Rams, who won the NFC West Division after a topsy-turvy season, now have the chance to host the conference title game next Sunday, vs. the rival San Francisco 49ers.