Nobody expected the Carolina Panthers to be one win from assuming control of the NFC South through 12 games of the season. But that was the incentive awaiting head coach Dave Canales' squad during their prime-time showdown against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Bryce Young needed to be at his best for the Panthers to achieve this objective. The quarterback was nothing short of sensational in Carolina's overtime triumph over the Atlanta Falcons, breaking Cam Newton's franchise record for single-game passing yards, earning another game-winning drive as a result of his sterling efforts to put the league on notice.