Carolina called the timeout after the first down. The second one McVay called was after they got it to 3rd and 5 or so from 2nd and a lot. I agreed with the first timeout wholeheartedly, since it was right after a sack, and there was time to potentially score again. The second when the down and distance was manageable I didn't love. But I don't think it was a bad call.
You are correct sir about the timing. My mistake for posting late at night without checking the replay. The Panthers took the timeout at 37 seconds after the first down conversion.
I didn't like the first timeout, and still don't, but I agree with several comments that it was defensible with the Panthers backed up to the 17 after a sack on first down. The second timeout is a different story.
The second Rams TO gave the Panthers a 3d and five with 42 seconds left and time to think about a play. If they made the first down, they were within 25 yards or so of field goal range with two timeouts. Their kicker apparently has a strong leg though he missed an earlier 53 yarder. If we had gotten the ball back, it would have been deep in our own territory with farther to go, less time, and only 1 timeout.
I stand by my view that this was a terrible strategy against a tough opponent on the road. We underestimated the Panthers. We didn't maximize our defense by forcing them either to hurry or to run out the clock. We in effect used our timeouts to enable their two minute offense while saving their own. We assumed that the Panthers couldn't make a five yard play but that we could instead score on a long field requiring likely several passing completions.
Even if this had not predictably backfired it was the wrong call. As it happened it gave the Panthers life going into halftime and helped them push us into a close game in the second half.