Panthers take enormous step toward ending playoff drought with thrilling win over Bucs

The Carolina Panthers took a large measurement to ending their playoff drought with a immense 23-20 triumph implicit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers connected Sunday.

Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald nailed the go-ahead 48-yard tract extremity with 2:20 near successful the game. Then, Panthers information Lathan Ransom intercepted a walk by Baker Mayfield to seal the victory. The gritty Carolina triumph pushed them to the apical of the NFC South part with 2 weeks near successful the season.

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Panthers information Lathan Ransom celebrates aft an interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)

Bryce Young stepped up for the Panthers erstwhile they needed him the most.

He fired a 22-yard touchdown walk to Tetairoa McMillan close earlier halftime. The Panthers had a three-point pb going into the locker room. In the 3rd quarter, Young recovered Ja’Tavion Sanders for a 6-yard people to spell up 3 points again.

The Buccaneers tied the crippled with 11:24 to spell successful the 4th fourth with a 50-yard Chase McLaughlin tract goal. But it seemed similar the Panthers had an reply for astir everything Tampa Bay threw astatine them.

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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan celebrates aft scoring against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, successful Charlotte. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

Carolina’s defence held Mayfield to conscionable 145 passing yards – among the lowest full he’s tallied this season. He had 1 touchdown walk to Mike Evans but the important interception to Ransom was the eventual setback successful the game.

Young was 21-of-32 with 191 passing yards and 2 touchdown passes. He didn’t crook the shot over. McMillan led the squad with six catches for 73 yards.

Carolina defenders Nick Scott and Christian Rozeboom each had 10 tackles. Rozeboom and Derrick Brown had a sack each.

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The Panthers aren’t successful the playoffs yet and could get immoderate assistance with a triumph successful Week 17 and a Buccaneers loss. The 2 teams volition conscionable 1 much clip successful Week 18. Carolina hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2017 and hasn’t won a playoff crippled since 2015.

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