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Panthers rookies Tetairoa McMillan & Nic Scourton react to big win vs. Bucs

Carolina's class of 2025 was instrumental in beating the Buccaneers for the first time in five games.
Tim Weaver|
Dec 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) and quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrate after a play during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium.
Dec 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) and quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrate after a play during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium. | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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Carolina Panthers

The 2025 Carolina Panthers are just full of surprises. After dropping a countless number of games that they were expected to win, the Panthers threw a curveball today by upsetting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home, taking control of the division in the process.

Along the way Carolina got huge games from Bryce Young and Derrick Brown, but they wouldn't have closed the deal without big contributions from their stellar 2025 draft class - including a game-ending interception from rookie safety Lathan Ransom.

Here's what first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan had to say after posting a team-best 73 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Tetairoa McMillan on bounce-back game

The Panthers also got a huge game from their second-round draft pick, outside linebacker Nic Scourton. Here's what he shared in the locker room afterwards.

Nic Scourton talks football IQ

It's still early in the process, but these two have gotten off to a great start in their careers and have a chance to be cornerstone pieces for Carolina's offense and defense for years to come, respectively.

For the season, McMillan is now up to 65 catches, 924 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He should have a strong case to win Offensive Rookie of the Year over Bucs wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who made one big play but was held to 40 yards on two receptions.

Scourton was originally credited with the sack where four different Panthers defenders converged at once on Baker Mayfield, but that has since been moved to Derrick Brown's column. Scourton remains at 3.5 sacks for the season.

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Tim Weaver
TIM WEAVER

Tim Weaver has been writing about the NFL since the 2013 season for multiple teams and outlets, including USA Today and The Sporting News. He currently covers the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers for On SI.