Panthers Shock Rams, Climb Power Rankings: Is Carolina Finally Turning the Corner?
If the Carolina Panthers were looking for a statement win, they just delivered it-with authority. In one of the most surprising results of the NFL season so far, the Panthers took down the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams in a 31-28 thriller that flipped the script on their season and sent a clear message to the rest of the league: don’t count them out just yet.
Behind a breakout performance from Bryce Young, a resurgent ground game led by Chuba Hubbard, and a defense that made just enough plays when it mattered, Carolina pulled off an upset that has them creeping back into the playoff conversation-and climbing the power rankings heading into their Week 14 bye.
Let’s take a closer look at where the Panthers stand across the league’s major power rankings and what each outlet is saying about their sudden surge.
USA Today: Rank 17 (+3)
The Panthers are moving up-and for good reason. Chuba Hubbard’s return to a featured role in the offense paid off in a big way on Sunday.
With 19 touches for 124 total yards, Hubbard gave the Panthers a physical edge they’ve been missing. His ability to keep the chains moving opened up the play-action game for Bryce Young and gave Carolina the kind of offensive balance that’s been lacking for most of the season.
NFL Media: Rank 18 (+1)
If you’re trying to make sense of Carolina’s season, good luck. The Panthers might have the strangest résumé in the league right now. They’ve been blown out at home, lost winnable games, and then turned around and beat one of the NFL’s top teams-all while battling injuries across both sides of the ball.
Their past three home games tell the story: a 31-point loss to Buffalo, a 10-point defeat to New Orleans, and now a win over the red-hot Rams. That’s not exactly the trajectory of a playoff team, but it’s also what makes them dangerous. Bryce Young has been a rollercoaster-lights-out against Atlanta, flat against San Francisco, and then electric again in the win over L.A., where he posted his best passer rating of the year.
Carolina's playoff hopes may ultimately come down to their two remaining matchups with Tampa Bay in Weeks 16 and 18. Those games could define their season.
ESPN: Rank 18 (+2)
ESPN zeroed in on Bryce Young as the key to Carolina’s stretch run-and that’s hard to argue. When Young plays clean football and avoids turnovers, the Panthers look like a completely different team. Sunday’s win over the Rams was a perfect example: three touchdowns, no picks, and a season-high 147.1 passer rating.
Contrast that with his performance the week before against the 49ers-two interceptions and a 60.8 rating-and the difference is night and day. With defenses loading up to stop the run, Young has to be sharp in the passing game. If he can keep this level of play going, Carolina becomes a real threat in the NFC South.
Pro Football Talk: Rank 15 (+5)
Sometimes it really is that simple: run the ball, win football games. That was the message from Pro Football Talk, which gave the Panthers their biggest jump of the week. The commitment to the ground game-led by Hubbard and supported by a more physical offensive line-gave Carolina the kind of control and rhythm they’ve lacked for much of the season.
CBS Sports
Carolina’s win wasn’t just about offense-it was about timely defense, too. The Panthers forced a key turnover from Matthew Stafford and made clutch plays in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Now, they head into their bye just one game behind the Bucs in the NFC South, with everything still in play.
Sports Illustrated
If you’re looking for a Coach of the Year candidate, Dave Canales is starting to build a compelling case. The turnaround in Carolina has been dramatic-not because of flashy offseason moves, but because of in-season growth, smart adjustments, and player development. Through 13 weeks, this team has evolved in real time, and Sunday’s win was the clearest sign yet that they’re buying into what Canales is selling.
The Athletic
For most of the season, it’s been easy to overlook the Panthers. That’s no longer the case.
Bryce Young looked every bit the franchise quarterback in Week 13, completing 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns. He was decisive, accurate, and in command-everything Carolina hoped he would be when they drafted him.
With that kind of performance, the Panthers are no longer just a scrappy underdog-they’re a team that can beat anyone on a given Sunday.
Bleacher Report: Rank 19 (+1)
The Panthers bounced back in a big way after getting humbled by the 49ers the previous week. And while consistency is still a work in progress, there’s no denying this team’s upside. They might not be Super Bowl contenders yet, but in a wide-open NFC South, they might just be the best team in the division.
They still trail Tampa Bay in the standings, but with two games left against a banged-up Bucs squad, Carolina controls its own destiny. The defense is opportunistic, the offense is finding its rhythm, and when Bryce Young is on, this team is dangerous.
The Bottom Line
This Panthers team isn’t just surprising people-they’re starting to believe in themselves. Sunday’s win over the Rams wasn’t a fluke. It was the product of growth, resilience, and a young quarterback finding his stride at the right time.
Heading into their bye, the Panthers have already matched their win total from the previous two seasons combined. And with a favorable schedule ahead-including two critical matchups with the Buccaneers-Carolina has a real shot to make noise in the playoff race.
Are they contenders yet? Maybe not.
But they’re no longer an afterthought. And in a season full of twists, the Panthers just became one of the league’s most intriguing teams to watch down the stretch.