Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers took control of the NFC South race with a 23-20 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Young led a third-quarter touchdown march and also positioned the Panthers for a go-ahead field goal with under 2:30 remaining in the contest. Then, rookie safety Lathan Ransom ended the game with a final-minute interception.
Young has displayed an uncanny ability to finish this season. The former No. 1 overall pick has led six game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. It's the second-most in a season in Panthers history (Jake Delhomme with seven in 2003; lost Super Bowl XXXVIII).
"I think if you just look at our games, no matter who the opponent is, the way we finish," cornerback Jaycee Horn said, via the team’s official website. "I feel like if it's close in the fourth quarter, especially with 9, if it's close with him, he's going to go win it. We're just a team built on resiliency, and we're going to keep pushing.
"I mean, I wouldn't say it surprised me, but you know it's definitely exciting to watch it. He's got you on the edge of your seat, and that was a crazy play, but you know that's what he do."
Young's counting stats don't jump off the page. He generated 191 yards on 21-of-32 passing with two touchdowns. But the QB made the clutch plays late, including a Houdini maneuver to set up the third-quarter TD toss to Ja'Tavion Sanders. With the game in the balance, Young guided the Panthers into scoring range with a perfect 34-yard deep shot to Jalen Coker on a pivotal third-and-4.
Young has 12 career game-winning drives. Only Justin Herbert (13) has more prior to turning 25 (since 1950). Only Dak Prescott (14), Matt Ryan (13) and Herbert had more in their first three seasons.
"I'm so proud of this group," Young said. "I'm so proud to be a Panther. The resiliency speaks for itself; we just know how to come back and refocus, good or bad, we try to flush it. And you know there's no quit in us.
"Coach talks about it all the time, finish. That's something that we take a lot of pride in that we carry into every aspect of who we are as a team, and for us not to just talk it but to walk it, to be resilient, to go and continue to battle, I wouldn't want to go to war with any other team."
The victory gave the Panthers sole possession of first place in the NFC South and snapped a five-game losing streak to the Bucs. Carolina tallied eight wins for the first time since 2017, when the team last made a playoff appearance.
A Week 17 win over Seattle, coupled with a Bucs loss to Miami, would give Carolina the division title. If not, we head to Week 18 with the division title on the line in the rematch.
"Yeah, it feels great, and it'll feel great for the next 24 hours," Young said. "After that, it's not going to matter. This is what, Week 16? That's not when the playoffs start. So there's still a lot more work to be done. There's still a lot more football to be played. Again, 24-hour rule, we'll celebrate this one, but we know that we have to refocus."
