CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — There had been loads of questions on how the Carolina Panthers would fare in the postseason.
They repeatedly missed alternatives down the stretch to wrap up the NFC South, solely to again into the playoffs with a dropping file on the ultimate day of the common season.
Las Vegas oddsmakers certain did not consider in the Panthers. Carolina entered the week 200-1 longshots to win the Super Bowl — by far the lowest of any of the 14 groups in the postseason — and a ten 1/2-point dwelling underdog to the Los Angeles Rams in Saturday’s wild-card recreation, in line with BetMGM Sportsbook.
But the Panthers proved they had been certainly playoff worthy — practically pulling off a surprising upset.
“We just showed people that we aren’t the old Panthers,” cornerback Mike Jackson mentioned.
They took the high-powered Rams to the brink of elimination earlier than All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford pulled out a late 34-31 victory with a 19-yard landing cross to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left, permitting Los Angeles to maneuver on to the divisional playoffs and abruptly finish Carolina’s season.
After the recreation, there was a combination of satisfaction and ache in the locker room. But above all, there was optimism and hope.
“This is the new standard now. We’re going to be a playoff team,” defensive lineman and team captain Derrick Brown instructed his teammates.
“A lot of people didn’t give us a chance,” Jackson mentioned. “I think the spread was something crazy. So, we just showed people who we are, and we got a lot to build on.”
The largest query getting into this season was whether or not Bryce Young was the proper man to steer the franchise.
The No. 1 decide in 2023 confirmed he would not lack coronary heart, main six successful drives in the fourth quarter or extra time. He now has 12 in the previous three seasons, greater than anybody named Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and even Stafford, who denied Young No. 13.
It wasn’t at all times fairly this season for Young, however there’s clearly one thing to construct on.
He overcame an early interception Saturday and accomplished 21 of 40 passes for 264 yards, together with a well-placed 7-yard landing cross to Jalen Coker with 2:39 left to place the Panthers forward 31-27. He additionally fearlessly ran for a 16-yard TD.
“He just showed who he is, man,” Jackson mentioned. “A lot of people talk about how little he is, how he can’t get it done, and it’s just like, he doesn’t listen to it. He is a silent killer, and I love that about him.”
The Panthers completed 8-10 general, however took a giant step — a 12 months earlier than most in and round the group thought they can be aggressive.
It may not have unfolded the means they wished it to by dropping 4 of 5 to shut the season, however 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.
“There 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,” second-year coach Dave Canales mentioned. “And that is going to sting.”
“I didn’t want it to end,” Young mentioned. “It’s a super special group of guys in the locker room. I’m super proud of the way guys responded to adversity.”
There shall be errors that shall be questioned this week, too.
— Why did the Panthers seem to present the Rams receivers a lot cushion on Stafford’s successful drive?
— Why had been they unable to advance the ball a single yard on their ultimate drive with 38 seconds left and three timeouts remaining?
Despite all of it, this can go down as a season of development for a younger team.
And the future seems brilliant.
“They’re really creating a beautiful culture here. Guys are bought in,” security Nick Scott mentioned. “Hopefully, they will continue to be here and good things will happen in the future.”
Injuries
After the recreation, Canales mentioned beginning left deal with Ickey Ekwonu suffered a big proper knee harm in the first quarter that brought on him to go away the recreation. The extent of the harm was not instantly recognized, but it surely’s potential it might affect Ekwonu’s availability for coaching camp.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn was not on the subject for the Rams’ ultimate offensive drive after leaving with a concussion, his second of the season.
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