While the game featured MVP favorite Matthew Stafford, the best quarterback on the field in Week 13's matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers was Carolina's Bryce Young. Nowhere was that more apparent than at the end of the game.
Los Angeles took a lead early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's back-and-forth game. But while it seemed like that might restore order, Young had other ideas. On the possession immediately following Los Angeles' go-ahead touchdown, Young led the Panthers on a six-play, 65-yard scoring drive. He was a perfect 3-for-3 on the drive, passing for 60 yards. Most of that came on a 43-yard touchdown pass to Tetairoa McMillan to give the Panthers a 31-28 lead. Adding to matters, the touchdown pass came on fourth down.
Tmac and the T is for Touchdown
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 30, 2025
Tetairoa McMillan x #ProBowlVote
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/fN5tchb342
As impressive as that was, Young had one more big pass in him.
Carolina forced a turnover on Los Angeles' next possession when Derrick Brown strip-sacked Stafford. But with 2:25 remaining in the game, the Rams had two time-outs, along with the two-minute warning. They still had a chance to get the ball back. Facing a third-and-five, Carolina rolled the dice and called for a pass. Young found Jalen Coker over the middle, which sealed the victory.
While Stafford's 243 yards passing were more than Young's 205, Young outplayed the MVP candidate. Stafford was 18-for-28 with two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Young, meanwhile, while 15-for-20, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also picked up 23 yards on the ground.
More notable were the circumstances around the game. The Rams entered Week 13 on a six-game winning streak and were seemingly the clear frontrunners in the NFC. The Panthers were not only on a short week, having played on Monday night, but also had to travel across the country. And Monday's game was hardly inspiring for Young or his team, as Young threw two interceptions in an ugly 20-9 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Bad games, though, will happen. The best players are the ones who don't let those bad games turn into a string of bad games. Young's performance was exactly what Carolina needed on Sunday.