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Carolina Panthers land ‘more respect’ after critical Week 16 win

The Panthers raised their record to 8-7 last week with a win over the Buccaneers. The team also rose a bit when it came to a version of NFL Power Rankings.
Russell Baxter|
Dec 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The Bleacher Report quartet of Gary Davenport, Kris Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski have put together the Week 17 NFL Power Rankings following a wild Week 16.

The up-and-down Carolina Panthers were up this past Sunday with a huge divisional victory. Dave Canales’s squad took on the defending division champions, and handed Todd Bowles’s club a 23-20 setback. Carolina’s victory elevated the team from No. 16 in last week’s rankings two spots to No. 14.

“After knocking off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” explained Moton, “the Carolina Panthers are in sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Since Week 7, they've alternated wins and losses. Carolina will look to sustain momentum when it hosts the Seattle Seahawks for its home regular-season finale, a tough task against the NFC’s No. 1 seed.”

The Seahawks own a 12-3 record and are in the midst of a five-game winning streak. Quarterback Sam Darnold still makes his share of mistakes, but last week helped rally his team from a 30-14 fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Los Angeles Rams in overtime, 38-37.

Bryce Young
Dec 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) drops to throw during the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Meanwhile, Carolina has benefitted from the recent play of their third-year signal-caller. “Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has shown significant growth over the past year,” added Moton, “He’s propelled Carolina to division title hopes with five game-winning drives and turned in another efficient passing performance this past Sunday, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns.”

“Atop the NFC South,” stated Moton, “the Panthers have earned more respect in our power rankings, if only slightly.”

Slightly is just fine, considering they now rank in the upper half of the league. And respect is great, but Canales’s team is certainly in search of much more. The Panthers haven’t been to the playoffs since 2017. The franchise also hasn’t won the NFC South since their Super Bowl 50 campaign in 2015. Now if only the Panthers can put together two consecutive wins…

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Russell Baxter
RUSSELL BAXTER

Russell S. Baxter has been writing and researching the game of football for more than 40 years, and on numerous platforms. That includes television, as he spent more than two decades at ESPN, and was part of shows that garnered five Emmy Awards. He also spent the 2015 NFL season with Thursday Night Football on CBS/NFLN.