In one of the more surprising outcomes today in the NFL, the Carolina Panthers defeated the number one team in the NFC in the Los Angeles Rams, in a game that featured a fantastic duel between two electric offenses.
Bryce Young Outplays Matthew Stafford in Carolina Panthers Win
Quite possibly the most surprising thing to happen in this game, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was able to boost his team to the win by outplaying the current MVP frontrunner in Rams star Matthew Stafford. The former Heisman winner finished with 206 yards passing and 3 touchdowns, including a 43-yard strike to rookie sensation Tetairoa McMillan on Carolina’s game-winning drive, to keep the Panthers in a dead heat with the Buccaneers in the race for this season’s NFC South division title.
On the other side, it was perhaps Stafford’s worst game of the season up to this point. The two-time Pro-Bowler finished with 243 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions in the game, as well as fumbling the ball on the Rams’ final drive of the game to unfortunately seal the win for Carolina.
Panthers Execute Masterclass in Clock Management
While the fourth quarter offered plenty of excitement in terms of big plays and touchdowns, the third quarter was where the Panthers put themselves in position to upset the Rams. Carolina was able to engineer a third quarter that saw the Rams possess the ball only once in the quarter. That domination of time of possession allowed the Panthers to take a 24-21 lead heading into the penultimate quarter.
The Panthers’ ability to play keep away from the Rams also showed up in the team’s efficiency on both third and fourth down. Carolina went 7-for-15 on third downs while also going a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down, which led to the Panthers possessing the ball for over 35 minutes for the game.
Rams Lose First Seed Position and Panthers Playoff Chances Increase
The NFC playoff picture continues to fluctuate at the top of the bracket. The Rams’ loss today has now allowed the 9-3 Chicago Bears to leapfrog past both the Rams and Eagles for the top seed. The loss also keeps the Seattle Seahawks right on the Rams’ heels for the NFC West division title heading into the final stretch, with both teams set to play each other one more time on December 18th.
For the Panthers’ playoff hopes, this win slightly moves the needle towards a potential playoff berth. Coming into the game, the Panthers had a 9% chance of making the playoffs; today’s win has increased those odds to 17%. While those percentages put a bit of a damper on the Panthers’ playoff dreams, there is a silver lining for Carolina.
Two of the final four games for Carolina will come against the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who only sit one game ahead of the Panthers in the NFC South. If the Panthers want to make their postseason dreams a reality, winning both of those games against Tampa Bay is a must.
