The Panthers: Showing Progress In Key Ways While Continuing to Chase Consistency.
- Corey Russell
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
You can always count on this team to keep you on the edge of your seat, because you never quite know which version of the Carolina Panthers is going to show up. Earlier this season, I mentioned their unmistakable Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tendencies, and they proved it once again this past Sunday with a statement win over the top-seeded Los Angeles Rams.
This season has been a medley of contradictions for this team. A squad that shows one face one week and an entirely different one the next. They’ve knocked off opponents everyone penciled in as losses, only to stumble against teams they were favored to beat, creating a brand of emotional whiplash that fans won’t soon forget. But what a ride it has been. No matter how the final record settles, this year has been defined by real growth, expected grit, and the building of a foundation that finally feels sturdy enough to support something special.
The game against the Rams was a must-win to stay in the playoff race, though if we’re being honest, few of us expected a win. Not because Carolina lacked the ability, but because last week’s battle with San Francisco left the team banged up and missing several key players. Still, that didn’t stop them from delivering a much-needed statement, not for the fans or the league, but for themselves. Now, the performance has many people rethinking what the starting lineup might look like at certain positions.
Quarterback Bryce Young delivered another standout performance, completing 15 of 20 passes (a season-best 75%) for 206 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, earning a career-high passer rating of 147.1. That marks the second-highest single-game passer rating in franchise history, trailing only Cam Newton’s 153.3 against Atlanta on Dec. 13, 2015. Young sealed the victory with a deep fourth-quarter strike to receiver Tetairoa McMillan for the game-winning score.
Hubbard ran with the same force and rhythm he showcased last season, racking up 124 scrimmage yards (83 rushing, 41 receiving)Â and hauling in a touchdown pass in the first quarter. RB Rico Dowdle added 79 scrimmage yards of his own and now sits at 1,183 total on the season (929 rushing, 254 receiving).
Defensive tackle Derrick Brown tallied two tackles (one solo), a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit, a sack, his first career forced fumble, and a pass defended. His 28 career passes defended now tie him with Mike Rucker for the second-most by a defensive lineman in franchise history.
Mike Jackson and Nick Scott each intercepted Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, snapping Stafford’s streak of 318 consecutive pass attempts without a pick. Rookie safety Lathan Ransom, making his first career start, led the defense with a personal-best 11 tackles (two solo) and notched his first career sack in the third quarter.
As the team heads into a well-earned break, they do so with the confidence of a group that never backed down whether the clock was winding tight or the odds were stacked high. The time off couldn’t come at a better moment, giving key contributors injured before and after the 49ers matchup a chance to fight their way back just in time for a brutal stretch run against Tampa Bay twice, Seattle, and New Orleans. Those final games will decide whether this squad punches its ticket to the postseason, but no matter how the standings shake out, this team has already exceeded expectations. Their resilience, growth, and refusal to fold have made them a season-long story worth celebrating.