WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Rams tight end Colby Parkinson was adamant, and therefore had plenty to say postgame about being in-bounds for his 19-yard, game-winning touchdown catch against the Panthers.
In the immediate moments after the decisive score, though, he momentarily found himself at a loss for words after seeing his family – who has been a fixture at every home game – in the stands at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
"Yeah, it's overwhelming," Parkinson said postgame. "Yeah. I mean, God is so good. I'm so blessed to be in this position. And every good and perfect gift is from the Lord, and I believe that wholeheartedly. And it was pretty cool. After a couple touchdowns here on the sideline, I just looked up at my family and I shed a few tears. So it was pretty cool, pretty special."
When Parkinson – a graduate of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif. – returned home and signed with the Rams in the spring of 2024, it meant more opportunities for that family to see him play. He had 30 receptions for 294 yards and one touchdown in a challenging first season, before a career-best second in L.A. that featured highs of 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns.
In other words, the Parkinson family has seen Colby – and his staple crab dance celebration – many times this year, and it's carried over into the playoffs.
"Colby made a big-time catch," Stafford said postgame. "It's pretty tight coverage. Thought I put a ball in a good spot, and he made a great play. He was so confident he caught it. I was like, 'I don't know, is he in? I'm like, I don't know,' but he was hyped up, like he knew he caught it for a touchdown. So I was kind of holding my celebration for a little bit, but happy that he came down."
Tight end Tyler Higbee, who holds every major franchise record for the position, has called this group the deepest he's been a part of in his 10 seasons as a Ram. Parkinson's career year in his second season in Los Angeles has been one of the biggest reasons why that notion has been reinforced, and why the Rams have been able to lean so heavily into 13 personnel since Week 6 against the Ravens. It will be needed again this week in Sunday's divisional round game between the No. 5 seed Rams and No. 2 seed Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago.
"Colby Parkinson, what a stud," head coach Sean McVay said. "I mean, Matthew having trust against a really good player one-on-one on the front pylon, and he goes up and gets it, and it's been kind of par for the course. Matthew trusting his guys, guys delivering in the critical moments, and really grateful."
