Bryce Young Sends Clear Message After Panthers’ Playoff Push Win: “Still a lot More Work To Be Done”

The Carolina Panthers improved to 8-7 after defeating divisional rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday.

Bryce Young Sends Clear Message After Panthers’ Playoff Push Win: “Still a lot More Work To Be Done”

Bryce Young (Image via Getty Images)

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The Carolina Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 at home on Sunday, boosting their chances of making the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Bryce Young completed 21-of-32 passes. throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

The quarterback has been stellar in the clutch moments this season. The 24-year-old from Pennsylvania orchestrated a third-quarter touchdown march and then put the Panthers in position for a go-ahead field goal with less than 2:30 left in the game.

It was his sixth game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime, the second-most by a Panthers quarterback in history. Jake Delhomme leads the list with seven such games in 2003, a year when the New England Patriots defeated them in the Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The win over the Bucs has given them control over the NFC South with two weeks to go. The Panthers are currently leading the division, with a chance to clinch in Week 17. The Panthers play the Seattle Seahawks next week, while the second-placed Bucs visit the Miami Dolphins. If the Dolphins defeat the Bucs and the Panthers secure a win, the Panthers will make their first playoff appearance since 2017.

However, things aren’t as easy as they look. There’s even a situation where the Atlanta Falcons could force a three-way tie for first place. The Panthers still have work to do, and the former first overall pick knows that. It’s not just qualifying for the playoffs but proving themselves and going the long way.

In a statement via the team’s website, Bryce Young noted that while they will celebrate the first twenty-four hours of the win, they will have their priorities refocused by now. He said, via the team’s website:

Yeah, it feels great, and it’ll feel great for the next 24 hours. After that, it’s not going to matter. This is what, Week 16? That’s not when the playoffs start. So there’s still a lot more work to be done. There’s still a lot more football to be played. Again, 24-hour rule, we’ll celebrate this one, but we know that we have to refocus.

What are the clinching scenarios for the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

As it stands heading into Week 17, the Carolina Panthers are 8-7, followed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with 7-8, and the Atlanta Falcons are 6-9. The Panthers have the highest chance of qualification since they control the division.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (Image via Imago)

Carolina Panthers Clinching Scenarios

The Carolina Panthers can clinch the division in Week 17 if they defeat the Seattle Seahawks and improve to 9-7, while Tampa Bay loses to the Miami Dolphins and falls to 7-9. In this particular scenario, the Panthers will have a game advantage over the Buccaneers heading into their clash in Week 18.

Regardless of the results in Week 17, the Panthers can still clinch in Week 18 if they defeat the Buccaneers. The simplest way for them is to win both games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Clinching Scenarios

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers can clinch the division without any headache if they win out. The Buccaneers need to eliminate the Dolphins and the Panthers in successive weeks. The Panthers’ defeating the Seahawks doesn’t make a difference in this case. If they lose to the Hawks and the Bucs defeat them, the Bucs would still win the division, but they won’t have to worry about tie-breakers.

There’s a chaos scenario that would suit the Panthers. If the Panthers lose both games, the Bucs lose to the Dolphins, and the Falcons win their remaining games, the Falcons will force a three-way tie. This scenario would end in the Panthers securing the home playoff berth with better head-to-head records. As it looks, the Panthers have an advantage, one which could slip away so easily.

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