The Carolina Panthers are on the brink of something they haven’t tasted since 2015 - a shot at clinching the NFC South and punching their ticket to the playoffs. But there’s a catch.
For that scenario to play out this Sunday, two things need to happen: Carolina has to take care of business against the Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to fall to the Miami Dolphins. Both games kick off simultaneously, so there won’t be any scoreboard peeking - at least not officially.
Bryce Young, the rookie quarterback who’s already made a name for himself with clutch performances, is keeping his focus tight.
“This is my first time in this situation, so I’m not sure,” Young said when asked if he’d be keeping tabs on the Bucs-Dolphins game. “But I know for me, for us, again, we have a ton of respect for the Seahawks, for our opponent.
We don’t have that luxury. Can’t look over our shoulders.”
And he’s right. Seattle brings one of the stingiest defenses in the NFC to the table.
Carolina’s margin for error is razor-thin, and Young knows it. The Panthers have to be dialed in - not just on Sunday, but all week.
Carolina hasn’t made the postseason since 2017, and after a gritty 23-20 win over Tampa Bay last weekend, they now hold a one-game edge in the division with two weeks left. If Tampa beats Miami, the Panthers' playoff hopes will hinge on a rematch with the Bucs in Week 18. But if the Dolphins can hand Tampa another loss - which would be their seventh in the last eight games - Carolina could lock things up early.
The Panthers, now sitting at 8-7, have been riding a rollercoaster since midseason. They haven’t strung together back-to-back wins or losses since October, alternating outcomes week to week.
But what’s consistent is how tight these games have been. In each of their last eight contests, Carolina either trailed or was tied in the fourth quarter - and in four of those, Young led game-winning drives.
That’s not just a fun stat. It’s historic.
Young now holds the record as the youngest player in NFL history to lead 12 game-winning fourth-quarter drives. That’s rare air for a rookie, and it speaks to the poise he’s shown in pressure situations.
“It’s something that I’ve always just tried to embrace,” Young said. “That’s the reason you play sports. That’s always been a fun scenario.”
He’s not just saying the right things - he’s living them. The former No. 1 pick out of Alabama has consistently delivered in crunch time, and he’s doing it with a calm presence that’s hard to teach.
He credits those moments as blessings, opportunities he’s grateful for. And when the game’s on the line, he’s locked in on execution.
Despite leading the division, Carolina only had one player named to the NFC Pro Bowl roster: cornerback Jaycee Horn. That’s fewer than some teams that have already been eliminated from playoff contention - a stat that might raise eyebrows but doesn’t seem to bother anyone in the Panthers’ locker room.
“The good thing is all the people that are on the team, Jaycee, and then the guys who are alternates and the guys that should have been, whatever it is, the good news, they’re all focused on winning,” Young said. “That’s all that we care about.”
The message is clear: individual accolades are great, but this team is chasing something bigger. And right now, that means going 1-0 this week - a mantra that’s become a rallying cry inside the building.
As for the rest of the league, Week 17 has plenty of intrigue. The Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders kick things off Thursday in a matchup that showcases 16 players from Alabama high schools and colleges - a fun side note for Crimson Tide fans. Here's how the full slate shapes up (all times Central, spreads via BetMGM):
Thursday
- Cowboys (-7) at Commanders, Noon (Netflix)
- Lions (-7.5) at Vikings, 3:30 p.m. (Netflix)
- Broncos (-13) at Chiefs, 7:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Saturday
- Texans at Chargers (-2), 3:30 p.m.
(NFL Network)
- Ravens at Packers (-3), 7 p.m.
(Peacock)
Sunday
- Seahawks (-7) at Panthers, Noon (WIAT, WTVY, WHNT, WKRG, WAKA)
- Cardinals at Bengals (-7), Noon
- Steelers (-3) at Browns, Noon
- Jaguars (-6.5) at Colts, Noon (WBRC, WZDX, WALA, WCOV, WDFX)
- Buccaneers (-5.5) at Dolphins, Noon
- Patriots (-13.5) at Jets, Noon
- Saints (-2.5) at Titans, Noon
- Giants at Raiders (-1.5), 3:05 p.m.
- Eagles at Bills (-1.5), 3:25 p.m.
(WBRC, WZDX, WALA, WCOV, WDFX)
Monday
- [Matchup not listed]
For Carolina, the path is clear - win, and hope Miami lends a hand. If not, the stage is set for a high-stakes rematch against Tampa in the season finale. Either way, Bryce Young and the Panthers are right where they want to be: in control of their destiny, with everything to play for.