CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) 鈥� There were plenty of questions about how the Carolina Panthers would fare in the postseason.
They repeatedly missed opportunities down the stretch to wrap up the NFC South, only to back into the playoffs with a losing record on the final day of the regular season.
Las Vegas oddsmakers sure didn’t believe in the Panthers. Carolina entered the week 200-1 longshots to win the Super Bowl 鈥� by far the lowest of any of the 14 teams in the postseason 鈥� and a 10 1/2-point home underdog to the Los Angeles Rams in Saturday’s wild-card game, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
But the Panthers proved they were indeed playoff worthy 鈥� nearly pulling off a stunning upset.
鈥淲e just showed people that we aren鈥檛 the old Panthers,鈥� cornerback Mike Jackson said.
They took the high-powered Rams to the brink of elimination before All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford pulled out with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left, allowing Los Angeles to move on to the divisional playoffs and abruptly end Carolina’s season.
After the game, there was a mixture of pride and pain in the locker room. But above all, there was optimism and hope.
鈥淭his is the new standard now. We’re going to be a playoff team,” defensive lineman and team captain Derrick Brown told his teammates.
鈥淎 lot of people didn鈥檛 give us a chance,鈥� Jackson said. “I think the spread was something crazy. So, we just showed people who we are, and we got a lot to build on.鈥�
The biggest question entering this season was whether Bryce Young was the right guy to lead the franchise.
The No. 1 pick in 2023 showed he doesn’t lack heart, leading six winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. He now has 12 in the past three seasons, more than anyone named Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes or even Stafford, who denied Young No. 13.
It wasn’t always pretty this season for Young, but there’s clearly something to build on.
He overcame an early interception Saturday and completed 21 of 40 passes for 264 yards, including a to Jalen Coker with 2:39 left to put the Panthers ahead 31-27. He also fearlessly ran for a 16-yard TD.
鈥淗e just showed who he is, man,鈥� Jackson said. 鈥淎 lot of people talk about how little he is, how he can鈥檛 get it done, and it鈥檚 just like, he doesn鈥檛 listen to it. He is a silent killer, and I love that about him.鈥�
The Panthers finished 8-10 overall, but took a big step 鈥� a year before most in and around the organization thought they would be competitive.
It might not have unfolded the way they wanted it to by losing four of five to close the season, but the Panthers snapped a seven-year playoff drought and dethroned four-time NFC South champion Tampa Bay to win their first division title in a decade.
鈥淭here is such a mix of emotions right now in the locker room, from guys being proud of what we accomplished and where we got, to being sick about the opportunity that was right there in front of us,鈥� second-year coach Dave Canales said. 鈥淎nd that is going to sting.鈥�
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want it to end,鈥� Young said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a super special group of guys in the locker room. I鈥檓 super proud of the way guys responded to adversity.鈥�
There will be mistakes that will be questioned this week, too.
鈥� Why did the Panthers appear to give the Rams receivers so much cushion on Stafford’s winning drive?
鈥� Why were they unable to advance the ball a single yard on their final drive with 38 seconds left and three timeouts remaining?
Despite it all, this will go down as a season of growth for a young team.
And the future appears bright.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e really creating a beautiful culture here. Guys are bought in,鈥� safety Nick Scott said. 鈥淗opefully, they will continue to be here and good things will happen in the future.鈥�
Injuries
After the game, Canales said starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu suffered a significant right knee injury in the first quarter that caused him to leave the game. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but it’s possible it could impact Ekwonu’s availability for training camp.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn was not on the field for the Rams’ final offensive drive after leaving with a concussion, his second of the season. ___
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