5 winners (and 2 losers) from Panthers' playoff-surging win over the Buccaneers

It's been a long time since the Carolina Panthers were involved in a game of this magnitude. Head coach Dave Canales' squad welcomed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Bank of America Stadium for a crunch NFC South championship showdown, and they delivered a rousing effort to regain their advantage at the division summit.

This was a tense affair throughout. Both clubs looked evenly matched, so it came down to a few crucial moments. Thankfully, the Panthers held their nerve in the game's closing stages, and Canales' squad is now just one win away from booking their first playoff berth since 2017.

Fans played their part. The stadium was rocking with an atmosphere last seen in the days of Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, and Ron Rivera. And after enduring more hardship than almost every other fan base over the last decade, few would begrudge them this moment in the limelight.

The job is not finished. Carolina has put itself in the driver's seat, but that could change quickly. The Seattle Seahawks — No. 1 seed in the NFC, no less — are up next. After that, it's another date with the Buccaneers. The margins remain fine, but they have given themselves a tremendous chance.

With this in mind, here are five winners and two losers from Carolina's thrilling triumph in Week 16.

Winners and losers from the Carolina Panthers' playoff-surging win over the Buccaneers

Winner No. 1

Lathan Ransom - Carolina Panthers S

Rookie fourth-round safety Lathan Ransom landed in this precise spot last week, but for the wrong reasons. But just one game after he was labeled a villain for an unnecessary roughness penalty that put the New Orleans Saints in manageable field goal range, he was the late hero at Bank of America Stadium.

With the Panthers holding a slender three-point advantage and Baker Mayfield moving the football almost effortlessly downfield, fans were holding their breath. The signal-caller tried to force a throw to wide receiver Mike Evans, and Ransom came up with an interception that sealed a sensational victory for Carolina.

It was instant redemption for the Ohio State product. Ransom outlined his desire to quickly shake off this setback, and he delivered. This speaks volumes to the player's resolve and unwavering determination in the face of adversity. And he's only going to get better from here.

In many ways, Ransom's big moment was a microcosm of how things have unfolded for the Panthers this season. They've gone through turmoil, but they always find a way to step up and right the wrong almost instantly. And if the same trend continues over the final two games, they'll have a playoff spot to show for their efforts.

Winner No. 2

Nic Scourton - Carolina Panthers OLB

It was starting to look like Nic Scourton had begun to hit the inevitable rookie wall in recent weeks, especially when it came to generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. However, the second-round pick turned on the style to help the Carolina Panthers secure a season-defining triumph on home turf.

Scourton made it clear from the outset that he would not be denied. The No. 51 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft brought relentless energy to the defensive edge. He collapsed the pocket enough to make quarterback Baker Mayfield uncomfortable. It didn't show up on the stat sheet with just four tackles and one tackle for loss, but he caused complete havoc throughout.

The Panthers believed trading up for Scourton was too good an opportunity to turn down. It's still relatively early days, but the signs couldn't be more encouraging.

Loser No. 1

Chau Smith-Wade - Carolina Panthers CB

There was one ongoing frustration for the Panthers. They managed to get over the line dramatically in the game's closing moments, but the middle of the field was far too exposed throughout.

This is nothing new, either. The Panthers' linebacking corps needs another dynamic sideline-to-sideline force when the offseason arrives. General manager Dan Morgan should also be examining an upgrade at the nickel cornerback position if the right opportunity presents itself next spring.

Chau Smith-Wade is manning the spot right now. He's flashed potential, but he's undersized for tackling. He cannot jam receivers or tight ends at the line of scrimmage and often loses leverage due to indifferent on-field awareness.

Smith-Wade could be a serviceable rotational piece. Tasking him with starting responsibilities seems a bit much right now, though that could change with another offseason to hone his craft. With pivotal games against the Seattle Seahawks and Buccaneers (again) upcoming, raising consistency is crucial.

Winner No. 3

Tommy Tremble - Carolina Panthers TE

This was a game for unsung heroes. Those who never get recognition, but whose contributions were integral to the Panthers' sensational triumph that shifted the balance of power within the NFC South.

Tommy Tremble's exceptional work didn't show up much on the stat sheet. But upon further examination of the game film, it was crucial to the team's success.

His blocking was absolutely relentless, providing physicality and aggression both in-line and at the defensive second level constantly. Tremble only caught one pass for six receiving yards, but that is not his primary objective in head coach Dave Canales' offense.

Tremble is an outstanding blocking specialist. His athleticism and awareness are first-class in this discipline, giving the Panthers an extra blocker in pass protection and a crushing force to assist in running or after-the-catch situations.

The Notre Dame product is an understated character compared to other offensive players. Still, everyone in the building knows how important Tremble is becoming.

Winner No. 4

Bryce Young - Carolina Panthers QB

The Carolina Panthers struggled to get anything going on the ground in this one. They were scared to run up the middle with formidable nose tackle Vita Vea in their path, and got only glimpses of productivity on the outside without left tackle Ikem Ekwonu plowing running lanes. That put the onus on quarterback Bryce Young to come through for his team.

This is probably what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted. It's a method that proved so successful for the New Orleans Saints in two meetings this season, but Young knew the magnitude of this one. He stayed calm amid the chaos and produced the sort of performance Carolina envisaged in high stakes when they took him No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Young's poise was exceptional. His escapability and decision-making both in the pocket and out of structure typified how far he's come in a short space of time. And when he needed to come through in the clutch, the former Alabama star delivered as usual.

The Panthers have something special brewing, and Young is at the forefront.

Loser No. 2

Xavier Legette - Carolina Panthers WR

The Panthers still don't quite know what they have in wide receiver Xavier Legette, almost two years into his professional career. Although the Panthers managed to seal a memorable triumph versus a team that has dominated this particular matchup in recent years, it wasn't an encouraging performance overall from the 2024 first-round pick.

Legette was credited with a crucial drop when it looked easier to catch a beautiful delivery from quarterback Bryce Young. Soon after, he displayed a complete lack of awareness near the boundary, failing to get his feet in bounds for another unforced error incompletion. Head coach Dave Canales looked for him almost immediately after, which resulted in a 12-yard reception.

Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker outshone Legette, not for the first time in recent weeks. There is still a long way to go, but it's going to take a monumental effort for the South Carolina product to meet his first-round billing moving forward.

Winner No. 5

Mike Jackson Sr. - Carolina Panthers CB

Jaycee Horn might be getting all the headlines as the Pro Bowl cornerback emerging as one of the league's most productive shutdown presences on the boundary. Even so, the Panthers' surge to within touching distance of the playoffs doesn't happen without the contribution of Mike Jackson Sr.

Dan Morgan secured a bargain of epic proportions when he gave up seventh-round linebacker Michael Barrett to acquire Jackson via trade from the Seattle Seahawks before the 2024 season. He did more than enough for a contract extension, and despite giving up a touchdown to Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in this one, he was nothing short of sensational.

Jackson never backed down. He grew in stature as the game wore on. He secured three pass breakups, including one to deny Evans a second score of the contest. His performance was understated but integral to the team's triumph.