In the midst of a brutal last-second home playoff loss to the Rams, the Carolina Panthers were hit with some tough news on one of their key defenders. After the Panthers took a late fourth-quarter lead on a beautiful pass from QB Bryce Young to the back corner of the end zone where WR Jalen Coker made a great catching while being tackled, the Rams marched down the field and answered with a touchdown of their own that took the lead for good in the final minute.
Back in Week 18, the Panthers had a win-and-in game against their division rival Buccaneers to win the NFC South and secure a home playoff game. Carolina ended up losing that game in Tampa, 16-14, in an ugly game played in the rain. Young outplayed Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, but the Panthers had just 19 total rushing yards and turned it over three times and never got any consistent momentum on offense.
However, due to the mechanics of a three-way tie for the NFC South lead between the Panthers, Buccaneers, and Falcons, Carolina won the division and hosted Los Angeles on Saturday. It didn’t go the way the Panthers hoped, but it was their first playoff game since 2017 and builds some momentum for Young and Panthers HC Dave Canales.
NFL Delivers Punishment to a Carolina Panthers Defender Before the Rams Game
GettyCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 21: Darnell Mooney #1 of the Atlanta Falcons stiff arms Mike Jackson #2 of the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
Ahead of the Rams game, the Panthers got the news that one of their players was hit with a fine by the league for his actions against Tampa Bay. Panthers CB Mike Jackson was fined $11,593 for a taunting penalty he received late in the first quarter of that game.
Against the Buccaneers, Jackson had seven tackles. He was sensational for Carolina against the Rams, finishing the wildcard game with three tackles, four passes defensed, and a third-quarter interception that set up the Panthers’ first go-ahead touchdown. Los Angeles continually attacked him on the outside — as they’d rather target him than former All-Pro CB Jaycee Horn — but he stepped up time and time again with big stops and huge plays when his team needed him most.
Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young Had a Fantastic Postseason Debut
The game didn’t go his way, but Young was sensational in his first postseason action. He’d had an up and down third season in Carolina, having some huge moments — including the fourth quarter of the Panthers’ Week 13 win over the Rams — but also had some struggles, particularly in high-volume passing game scripts.
Against the Rams in the wildcard round, Young went 21 of 40 for 264 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran three times for 24 yards and a second-quarter touchdown to give Carolina some momentum going into halftime.
The completion percentage and yards per attempt numbers might not jump off the page, but it felt like every time the Panthers needed a big play, Young stepped up. He made big plays downfield when his team needed him, though he and his team ultimately came up just short.
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