No one saw this coming.
The Carolina Panthers are in first place in the NFC South Division with two weeks to play.
The Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, 23-20.
Carolina is 8-7. The Bucs are 7-8. There are two weeks to play. The Panthers haven't been in first at this point in a decade.
The Panthers play the Buccaneers in Week 18, so this could still come down to that game. But the Panthers officially have the leg up.
This wasn't in anyone's vision. At the start of the year, the question was whether Bryce Young was the answer at QB for Carolina, and how they'd move on if they had to.
Instead, Young played great, including a masterful escape of pressure to find J'Tavion Sanders for a key touchdown.
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This is the kind of reality that can change a future.
If the Panthers win the division, Young could be signed long-term to keep playing quarterback in Carolina. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, and he hasn't been totally convincing, but he keeps showing promise in key moments.
The Panthers' defense did enough to beat the Bucs, too.
And on the game's penultimate play, the Panthers jumped an out route and intercepted Baker Mayfield.
The celebrations were on at that point for this surprise Carolina team. Now the Panthers have just a couple weeks to go to finish the job.
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