Caleb Brooks: "Carolina had the better day moving the ball—422 yards to 324—but couldn't stop giving it away. Young's 2 interceptions and a third giveaway were the difference in a 2-point game Atlanta won clean." Zoe Bell: "This wasn't some aberration—this is exactly what Atlanta has been: a team that wins when it doesn't beat itself, while Carolina can't stop finding new ways to. Two teams at 10-7 heading to the playoffs, and the one that threw it away went home."

Panthers could not stop handing it over, and Falcons made it count — 23-21. Michael Penix Jr threw for Falcons — 24/37, 251 yards, 2 TD. Bryce Young threw for Panthers — 20/34, 257 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT — in a losing effort. Bijan Robinson is still searching for it — 63 rushing yards a game across his last three, against an average of 90. Total yards: Panthers 422, Falcons 324.

Daniel Keller: "Carolina smothered this one early and never let Seattle breathe—the Seahawks allowed 8 sacks and managed only 197 yards, and that kind of offensive collapse decides a 17-point game before anything else matters." Luca Santana: "Chris Brazzell II pulled in 9 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown—that kind of quiet, chain-moving afternoon from a receiver who isn't in the MVP conversation tells you Carolina's offense ran exactly what it needed to run, which was everything that wasn't predicated on one player beating somebody."

Panthers did what they needed to, 31-14. Nic Scourton lived in the backfield for Panthers — 2.5 sacks. Jonathon Brooks carried the load for Panthers — 15 carries, 104 yards, 1 TD. A season best for Jadarian Price. Total yards: Panthers 386, Seahawks 197.

Jaylen Rivers: "Cincinnati came in broken and it showed — 20 points on the road against a Carolina team that's found its rhythm with Young throwing for 250-plus yards now in 4 straight. The Bengals are what their record says."

Panthers took care of Bengals, 24-20. Bryce Young did the damage for Panthers — 19/29, 284 yards, 1 TD. Joe Burrow threw for Bengals — 17/39, 204 yards, 2 TD — in a losing effort. That is 4 straight games over 250 for Bryce Young. Total yards: Panthers 418, Bengals 324.

Scoreboard operators earned their money. Panthers 42, Saints 23. Bryce Young was steady for Panthers — 28/39, 285 yards, 3 TD. Tyler Shough was steady for Saints — 18/34, 324 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT — in a losing effort. Through the air: Saints 324, Panthers 285.

27-20 to Ravens, and it went about how it looked. Lamar Jackson was steady for Ravens — 11/24, 253 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT. Zay Flowers did the catching for Ravens — 5 catches, 145 yards, 2 TD. Lamar Jackson has now cleared 250 passing yards in 3 in a row. Total yards: Ravens 379, Panthers 283.