If Carolina Panthers fans weren't dreaming of winning the NFC South and making the playoffs before, they are now. But even though head coach Dave Canales' squad secured a sensational victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterback Bryce Young knows that the job is not finished.
Not by any stretch of the imagination.
The Panthers have given themselves a fighting chance of winning the division for the first time in a decade. Young was at the heart of everything good for Carolina in Week 16, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and doing just enough in the clutch to ensure fans went home from Bank of America Stadium happy.
Bryce Young knows the Carolina Panthers still have some hard work ahead
It's been a long time since the Panthers' long-suffering fan base had anything legitimate to cheer. Young admitted that this new feeling of prosperity feels good. But he also knows it counts for nothing if they cannot get over the line over the next fortnight.
"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."Bryce Young via Panthers.com
This should be the message resonating across Carolina's locker room.
Nobody expected them to be in this position. They are savoring every moment, while also learning how to handle the big occasion. They'll be better for this experience, regardless of how things go from here. At the same time, it would be bitterly disappointing if the Panthers fell at the final hurdle after getting this far.
Young's been through enough ups and downs throughout his career to take nothing for granted. Momentum is with the Panthers; there's no getting away from that. But with the Seattle Seahawks and Buccaneers upcoming, keeping everyone grounded and focused is paramount before their fates are determined.
The Panthers are right on the cusp of something special. To reach the postseason in Canales' second season at the helm was far beyond the dreams of realistic fans before the campaign. Tampa Bay's new vulnerability and Carolina's relentless desire to bounce back from setbacks have seen the pendulum swing drastically over the second half of 2025.
Nobody remembers who finishes second and doesn't make the knock-out rounds. Young knows it, and he's made his feelings crystal clear.