The Carolina Panthers had nothing to lose and everything to gain in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. They were 13.5-point underdogs with their backs firmly against the wall. But that's just the way head coach Dave Canales and his squad like it.
It was clear from the outset that this contest would be much more competitive than anyone had thought possible. The Panthers dictated the tempo offensively. They played suffocating defense, a far cry from their complete capitulation against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. More importantly, they allowed quarterback Bryce Young to lead yet another game-winning drive.
Young came through with a lot of help. Undrafted rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald kept his cool to hit another walk-off field goal, and the rest is history. The Panthers put the NFL on notice with a statement victory that even the brightest optimist couldn't have envisaged beforehand.
The Panthers are now 5-4 with some winnable games upcoming. Making the playoffs remains unlikely unless they win the NFC South, but it's starting to look like Carolina might be able to pile some pressure on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after all.
That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are five winners and two losers from Carolina's remarkable success at Lambeau Field.
Winners and losers from Carolina Panthers' stunning upset win over the Packers
Winner No. 1
Tershawn Wharton - Carolina Panthers DL
The Carolina Panthers had to make a concerted effort to win in the trenches at Lambeau Field. This was especially significant on defense, given how dynamic the Green Bay Packers offense could be if the pressure didn't arrive.
They achieved this objective emphatically. The entire defensive front was relentless. But after a stuttering start to his time in Carolina due to injury, this represented Tershawn Wharton's breakout moment at long last.
Wharton jumped off the tape consistently. He was a constant menace to the Packers' offensive line, winning battles routinely against the run or in obvious pass-rushing situations. The marquee free-agent signing from the Kansas City Chiefs looked like a game-wrecker. And this is the standard he's now set for himself moving forward.
Hopefully, Wharton's nagging injuries are behind him, and this can provide the springboard toward a strong second half of 2025. His partnership with Derrick Brown and A'Shawn Robinson on the front looks formidable when everyone is firing on all cylinders. This should also give him plenty of confidence after things didn't start as the player or the Panthers would have liked.
Winner No. 2
Nic Scourton - Carolina Panthers OLB
The Carolina Panthers needed a massive effort from rookie edge rusher Nic Scourton. They will be without the services of veteran Patrick Jones II following season-ending back surgery. Fellow first-year pro Princely Umanmielen also missed the trip to Lambeau Field, leaving Ejiro Evero's options wafer-thin on the ground.
Scourton is further ahead than Umanmielen. He's taken to the professional ranks well, and Week 9 represented another strong indicator of the tools he can bring to the table as a potential long-term franchise cornerstone.
The former Texas A&M prospect was nothing short of relentless. Scourton's run-stopping prowess continues to excel. There is explosiveness and urgency in obvious pass-rushing situations. A lot of his good work didn't show up on the stat sheet, but it was nonetheless impressive.
General manager Dan Morgan thought he'd found a steal when he traded up for Scourton at No. 51 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's quickly repaying this faith.
Loser No. 1
Mike Jackson Sr. - Carolina Panthers CB
It was hard to pick holes, especially on the defensive side of the football. But there was one moment that could have put this game beyond all doubt long before the walk-off field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald.
Jordan Love was scrambling after the Panthers' defensive front collapsed the pocket quickly. The signal-caller threw up a prayer into the end zone across his body, but there was nobody there but cornerback Mike Jackson Sr. with nothing but daylight ahead of him.
Jackson dropped a lay-up, which could have even gone for a pick-six. We'll never know, and this was a microcosm of how the campaign has gone for last year's trade acquisition from the Seattle Seahawks overall.
Any explosive plays the Panthers gave up in this one, although there were not many, came when Jackson was covering. Matt LaFleur knew better than to test Jaycee Horn, a familiar tale in 2025.
Winner No. 3
Rico Dowdle - Carolina Panthers RB
The Panthers finally relented, giving Rico Dowdle lead-running back responsibilities at the expense of Chuba Hubbard. It's nothing more than the free-agent signing deserved, and he only strengthened his standing with another superb showing against the Packers.
Dowdle runs with purpose, explosiveness, and aggression. He loves nothing more than punishing opposing defenses. They are going to tackle him at some stage, but it always takes a monumental effort.
The Packers had no answer for Dowdle. He shouldered a heavy burden as expected, accumulating 130 rushing yards and two scores from 25 carries. He took a lot of hits and even missed time briefly during the game, but it would have taken an army to get him off the field after working so hard for this spot.
Carolina will keep riding this wave. And if the same trend continues over the second half of 2025, general manager Dan Morgan could offer him an extension to stick around.
Winner No. 4
Ikem Ekwonu - Carolina Panthers OT
The Carolina Panthers came into the game with a patchwork offensive line to depend upon. This didn't bode well versus a formidable Green Bay Packers defensive front, but they held up exceptionally well in testing circumstances.
Nobody thrived more than Ikem Ekwonu. The left tackle was tasked with keeping All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons out of the backfield, and he passed the test with flying colors through exceptional technique and brute strength throughout.
This was arguably Ekwonu's most accomplished performance since joining the Panthers as the No. 6 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. Parsons was credited with zero quarterback pressures for the first time in his career, a testament to his powerhouse performance under the spotlight.
He got a lot of help, but even when Ekwonu was alone against Parsons, he thrived. This only cements his claims for a lucrative contract extension in the not-too-distant future.
Loser No. 2
Chuba Hubbard - Carolina Panthers RB
A shift was coming to the running back dynamic in Week 9. Dave Canales stated that Rico Dowdle would be the lead presence, officially replacing Chuba Hubbard as the top dog. This painful new reality for the established veteran was confirmed in no uncertain terms.
As previously mentioned, Dowdle was sensational. Hubbard was restricted to just five carries for 17 rushing yards. He made a heads-up play after Bryce Young fumbled, but the Oklahoma State product was a non-factor aside from that.
The team is all that matters. Hubbard is professional enough to know that. Even so, it's not going to diminish the growing speculation regarding a trade for the 2021 fourth-round pick before the deadline.
Hubbard signed a new four-year deal last season, so teams will be reluctant to take on that money. And even though things are not clicking at the moment, he's got enough proven production to be an asset.
Winner No. 5
Dave Canales - Carolina Panthers HC
Nobody thought the Panthers would keep this one close. But not for the first time this season, this squad showed its resolve and unity under head coach Dave Canales' leadership.
Canales hasn't changed much. He's enthusiastic and purposeful. He believed that his methods would bear fruit, even when the Panthers faced significant challenges. And more importantly, the belief in his capabilities never wavered in the locker room.
Some questioned how Canales handled the latter part of the game. At the same time, he had complete faith in kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, and the strategy of playing a certain way in the fourth quarter was an overlooked but impactful element that deserves recognition. The coach knew his team could keep it close, and he wanted to give them the best possible chance of coming through in blustery conditions.
This provided more vindication that Canales' plan is working, and there is no telling what the Panthers might be capable of from here.