Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young turned a shaky week and an early injury scare into the greatest passing performance in Carolina Panthers history, powering a dramatic 30–27 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The game’s story was touchdowns, momentum swings, and Young’s refusal to quit.
Young came out sharp, completing 7 of 8 passes on the opening drive and capping it with a 7-yard touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan for a 7–0 lead. Atlanta answered quickly, leaning on Bijan Robinson, whose first rushing TD tied the game. Robinson later added a second touchdown, helping the Falcons build a 21–7 advantage.
Despite briefly leaving with a right-ankle issue late in the first quarter, Young returned after missing just one snap—and took over the game. Facing a depleted Atlanta secondary, he hit Xavier Legette on a 36-yard TD strike in the third quarter to trim the deficit to 21–16.
Down 24–20 late, Panthers running back Rico Dowdle’s big run set up Young’s biggest moment of the day. With 1:08 left, Young found McMillan again, this time on a 12-yard go-ahead touchdown, putting Carolina up 27–24. But Atlanta salvaged overtime with Zane Gonzalez’s 45-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining.
In OT, Young delivered the dagger—a 54-yard bomb to TE Tommy Tremble, setting up Ryan Fitzgerald’s 28-yard game-winning field goal. Backup QB Kirk Cousins couldn’t move the ball for Atlanta after Michael Penix Jr. exited earlier with a knee injury.
Young finished with 448 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, breaking Cam Newton’s franchise single-game passing record. McMillan hauled in two TDs and 130 yards, while Carolina erased a 21–7 deficit to sweep the divisional series.
The win lifts the Panthers to 6–5, just a half-game behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South. The Falcons, meanwhile, fall to 3–7 after their fifth straight loss—another decided in the final moments.
