The Carolina Panthers aren’t supposed to be here. Not after starting the season 0-2, and definitely not after the brutal defeat against the New Orleans Saints, when Bryce Young threw for just 124 passing yards.
But here they are, a 6-5 group sitting just a half game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and one win away from reshaping the NFC playoff race entirely. Fans are slowly starting to believe that Dave Canales' squad might be a playoff team.
Week 11 was everything Carolina needed. The Panthers survived a wild overtime game against the Atlanta Falcons, while Tampa Bay lost to the Buffalo Bills.