The Carolina Panthers finally found the formula to beat Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and the timing couldn’t have been better.
Carolina earned a 23-20 victory on Sunday to take sole possession of first place in the NFC South with two games remaining, setting up a dramatic finish to the division race. The Panthers improved to 8-7, snapping Tampa Bay’s hold on the top spot and putting themselves in position to chase their first division title in a decade and end a seven-year playoff drought.
But the Panthers know the job isn’t finished. Carolina can clinch the NFC South next Sunday with a win over Seattle and a Tampa Bay loss at Miami. If the Buccaneers beat the Dolphins, the Panthers would need to defeat Tampa Bay again in the regular-season finale to end the Bucs’ four-year reign as division champions.
Still, the mood inside the Panthers’ locker room was optimistic. Third-year quarterback Bryce Young delivered once again when it mattered most. Young threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns, continuing a remarkable trend in his young career. Of his 14 wins as an NFL starter, 12 have come on game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime — a testament to his poise in high-pressure moments.
This time, Carolina’s defense sealed the win. Rookie safety Lathan Ransom intercepted Mayfield with 42 seconds left, ending Tampa Bay’s final drive. The play served as redemption for Ransom, who was coming off a painful moment a week earlier in New Orleans. His late hit on a sliding Tyler Shough helped set up the Saints’ last-second field goal in a heartbreaking loss for Carolina.
On Sunday, Ransom made amends. With the Buccaneers trailing 23-20 and driving for a potential tying field goal or go-ahead touchdown, a miscommunication between Mayfield and Mike Evans on a second-and-9 play at the Carolina 42 proved costly. Ransom read the play perfectly, sliding to the turf to secure the interception and preserve the Panthers’ victory.
Mayfield, who entered the game 5-0 against Carolina in his career, finished 18 of 26 for 145 yards with one touchdown — a scoring strike to Evans on Tampa Bay’s opening drive. The Buccaneers hoped the return of injured receivers Evans and Jalen McMillan would spark a late-season surge, but instead fell to their third straight loss to drop to 7-8.
For Carolina, the win continued a telling pattern. The Panthers have now followed up losses with victories four straight times, something Young said reflects the team’s mental toughness. That response may define the Panthers’ season.
Buccaneers visit Miami on Sunday. Panthers host Seattle on Sunday.
