Happy New Year, Carolina Panthers fans! (Well . . . almost.)

2025 may prove to be a turning point for the organization. After suffering through a franchise-record playoff drought, the team has a chance to win its first NFC South title in a decade this Saturday—in a potential winner-take-all matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But before we get to this weekend, and to 2026, let’s celebrate the last 12 months and rank the Panthers’ top five moments of the year!

5. Fourth-down conversion vs. Dolphins (Week 5)

Down 17-0 in the second quarter to the Miami Dolphins, the Panthers faced a huge fourth-and-5. Quarterback Bryce Young scrambled around to evade pressure and, at the last second, set his base and fired a pass to rookie Tetairoa McMillan for a 21-yard gain.

This play is not discussed enough, as an incompletion would’ve likely put the Panthers too far behind and sent them to a 1-4 record. Instead, Young and McMillan sparked a rally that resulted in a 27-24 win.

4. Panthers 31, Rams 28 (Week 13)

The Los Angeles Rams were steamrolling through the NFL heading into Week 13, perhaps as the best team in football at the time. However, on a rainy afternoon in Charlotte, they faced a motivated Panthers team coming off a bad Monday night loss in San Francisco.

Carolina went punch for punch with the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and wound up with the ultimate knockout shot. Defensive lineman Derrick Brown caused a strip-sack of MVP candidate Matthew Stafford late in the fourth quarter, handing the rock over to the offense—which ran out the clock after a big 10-yard gain by wideout Jalen Coker.

Against all odds, the Panthers swiped a 31-28 victory.

3. Panthers 16, Packers 13 (Week 9)

That surprising showing against the Rams wasn’t their first major upset of 2025.

Coming off a blowout at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, the Panthers headed to Lambeau Field to face the top-seeded Packers as double-digit underdogs. But Carolina brought plenty of bite, stalling Green Bay’s offense throughout.

Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald booted through a 49-yard field goal as time expired to give the Panthers a shocking 16-13 win.

2. Bryce Young’s historic day in Atlanta (Week 11)

The Falcons have shut down some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this season. They could not, however, stop Young at home in Week 11.

Young completed 31 of his 45 throws that afternoon for a franchise-record 448 yards and three touchdowns. His historic performance inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium helped lift the Panthers to a 30-27 overtime victory and gave fans a look at what their offense can potentially be.

1. Panthers 23, Buccaneers 20 (Week 16)

For the first time in a long time, Bank of America Stadium played host to a playoff atmosphere—when the Panthers welcomed in the Bucs for a battle of sole possession of the NFC South two weeks ago. And after missing out on that feeling for seven years, Carolina experienced a bit of euphoria.

Young and McMillan, once again, would find some magic to pace the Panthers offense. The defense responded as well, and capped off the massive 23-20 win on a fourth-quarter interception by rookie safety Lathan Ransom.

The triumphant outing helped set up what could be the first major moment of 2026, as Carolina has a shot to go into Tampa Bay to capture their first division crown since 2015.

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