CHARLOTTE — There's still work to be done.
But the Panthers took a huge step toward the goal on Sunday.
The Panthers beat the Buccaneers 23-20 on Sunday in front of a joyous crowd at Bank of America Stadium, putting them closer to the first playoff berth since 2017 and first home playoff game since 2015.
They still need at least another win (with Seattle here next week before the finale at Tampa Bay), but considering where this team was two years ago, that's an incredible accomplishment regardless.
They did it with a 48-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald with 2:20 left, but that left the defense to make a play.
And a week after making the wrong kind, Lathan Ransom did.
The rookie safety picked off Baker Mayfield with 41 seconds left, allowing the Panthers to close it out and move to 8-7 on the season (the most they've won in a year since 2017). It was redemption after his late penalty last week against the Saints, and triggered a party.
Quarterback Bryce Young was at his cool best, throwing for 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The first to Tetairoa McMillan was the kind of throw-and-catch that could benefit this team for years to come.
The second was a little bit of magic.
Young ducked out of the back of the pocket under pressure, dipped between a pair of Bucs defenders, and found tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders on one knee in the back of the end zone.
Coupled with a collective defensive effort that sacked Mayfield twice and limited him to 145 yards passing put them in the driver's seat in the NFC South.
But again, there's work to be done.
Check out some of the best shots from the Panthers' Week 16 game against the Buccaneers.
