Panthers alone in first in NFC South, eyeing playoffs after Bucs’ loss to Falcons – The Athletic
Quarterback Bryce Young, Coach Dave Canales and the Carolina Panthers are alone in first place for the first time in 10 years. David Jensen / Getty Images
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dave Canales went to bed at halftime of the Falcons-Bucs game Thursday night. When the second-year coach woke up Friday morning, he and the Carolina Panthers were in a position the franchise hasn’t seen in 10 years – alone in first place.
When the Falcons came back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Bucs 29-28, it left the Panthers (7-6) in sole possession of first in the NFC South, the latest they’ve been alone at the top since Week 17 of their 2015 Super Bowl season.
The Panthers have several clinching scenarios that would send them to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The most direct and fastest: Winning at New Orleans on Sunday and beating the Buccaneers (7-7) at home on Dec. 21.
“Everybody watched the game. The guys, the coaches, we all watched it. But we also understand that’s for next week,” Canales said. “We play the Bucs next week. We play the Saints this week. We’ve gotta have our focus here. It’s gonna take everything we have to win this game and we’re gonna get the Saints’ best shot.”
Jaycee Horn, the Pro Bowl cornerback, stayed up for all of the Bucs-Falcons game, which ended on former Panther Zane Gonzalez’s 43-yard field goal as time expired. “I was telling my girlfriend, ‘He used to play with us,’” Horn said. “I was just proud he hit it. It was a good kick.”
Horn cleared the concussion protocol and will start against the Saints, who defeated the Panthers 17-7 in Week 10 for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough’s first win. Horn said the Panthers should be better prepared this time for Shough, who Horn said can make plays “when it’s money time.”
Horn appreciates the Panthers’ opportunity after enduring four losing seasons since being drafted in the first round in 2021.
“It’s a blessing to be able to be playing meaningful football at this point in the year,” he said. “We’ve still gotta focus on going 1-0 every week – or every day really, just winning the day and letting the chips fall where they may.”
