The Carolina Panthers got what they wanted during their bye week. And they are now tied for the NFC South lead after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered a demoralizing home loss to the lowly New Orleans Saints.
This could provide the springboard for a post-bye explosion nobody predicted before the campaign. But for this objective to be achieved, quarterback Bryce Young must be at the forefront.
Young has been (and still is) a polarizing figure. Some remain convinced that he doesn't have what it takes to take the Panthers where they want to go. Others believe he can be highly successful if everything is in position around the signal-caller. But everyone agrees that the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft must be more consistent if Carolina wants to secure the division crown.
Carolina Panthers' playoff fortunes rest squarely on Bryce Young's shoulders
But all the outside noise means nothing. Everyone inside the building is entirely behind Young. The highs are high, and the lows are low, but if head coach Dave Canales can keep the offense balanced, the Panthers know that they have a quarterback capable of coming through in the clutch.
And there is nothing more clutch than the next four games of the season.
The Panthers are about to embark on their most crucial stretch in almost a decade. They control their own destiny with the playoffs in sight. These are the moments Young lived for in college at Alabama. He's also got enough game-winning drives so early in his NFL career to suggest he only needs a chance to get his team over the line.
Momentum is on the Panthers' side. The Buccaneers are going through a concerning slump when it seemed like they would walk to another NFC South championship. That's not the case anymore, and although they are set to welcome back the wide receiver duo of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin soon, Carolina has absolutely nothing to fear.
Speculation is already rising about Young's contract status beyond the campaign. He's extension-eligible, and his fifth-year option decision is due as well. That raises the stakes considerably, but the Heisman Trophy winner is built for the big moment.
If the run game continues to thrive, the offensive line displays its typical forceful attitude, and the young pass-catchers hold up their end of the bargain, that'll be enough. If Young excels in the pressure cooker and the defense maintains a superb turnaround, the Panthers won't be too far away.
And if they can reach the postseason on the back of Young in Year 2 under Canales' guidance, that will completely alter the franchise's long-term outlook along the way.