4 Panthers players that must thrive under extreme pressure in Week 17

Sam Darnold – Carolina Panthers QB

There is growing confidence in Sam Darnold for the first time since he was drafted No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in 2018. The quarterback produced arguably his finest performance of the campaign in Week 16 against the Detroit Lions, which came with two combined touchdowns and a fourth-straight contest without a turnover.

This is an incredible turn of events for Darnold, who looked lost during the offseason after the Carolina Panthers drafted Matt Corral and made a trade for Baker Mayfield. It’s also yet more proof of the expert coaching and leadership of Steve Wilks, who’s bringing the best out of this franchise at long last.

Carolina’s offensive line and the running game also deserve credit for Darnold’s turnaround. This has brought improved confidence and efficiency from the former USC star, which is resulting in the best stretch of his professional career by a considerable margin.

Going up against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be a stiff challenge for Darnold. This is one of the NFL’s best passing defenses and any mistake is likely to be punished, so it’ll be interesting to see how the fifth-year-pro responds.

Sunday’s clash at Raymond James Stadium represents Darnold’s biggest game since entering the league. Getting off to a good start is crucial, but hopes are higher than ever that Carolina’s signal-caller won’t be the problem when push comes to shove.

Much like the Panthers, Darnold controls his own destiny. And it’s been an age since either could say that.