The Carolina Panthers‘ recent close-call defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has helped the latter keep their playoff hopes alive. While the defeat turned out to be controversially hard on the Panthers, their quarterback, Bryce Young, opened up about the reason behind the late ball on the ground. Instead of pressing on a thoughtful approach, the 24-year-old admitted to the fact that he decided to follow his instincts in the moment.

“I think probably natural instinct was to try to try to pick it up,” Young said, in a recent press conference. “That’s what happened, the ball touched my hands. You know, get sh** in there.”

During the Panthers’ Week 17 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a late play involving Bryce Young caused a lot of discussion. Late in the fourth quarter, Carolina tried a flea-flicker trick play while driving down the field. However, the play eventually went wrong when the ball hit the ground during the exchange. Instead of diving for the loose ball, Bryce Young tried to pick it up and continue the play. The Buccaneers then seized the moment and therefore recovered the fumble. This marked an end to the Panthers’ chances of a comeback.

After the game, referee Brad Allen explained two key calls that drew attention. During a third-quarter swing pass to Rico Dowdle, officials first ruled the play incomplete, then changed it to a backward pass after discussing it on the field. Allen said no replay assist was used, and the final ruling was made by the officials in real time.

Because the pass was backward, the ball was live, and the play ended when the runner gave himself up. Allen also addressed the overturned big catch by Tetairoa McMillan. He clarified that the receiver created more than one yard of separation downfield, which is illegal and ruled offensive pass interference under NFL rules.

Bryce Yong opens up on the final playoff opportunity

The Carolina Panthers missed their first chance to clinch the NFC South on Saturday after the 16–14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While the Buccaneers have now earned a major opportunity to fix their past mistakes, it doesn’t mean that the Panthers are out. They can still reach the playoffs on the final Sunday of the regular season. The outcome now depends on another game.

If the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, the Panthers will win the division, earn the No. 4 seed, and host a first-round playoff game.

“It’ll be a tough one. I might not even watch, to be honest with you,” Bryce Young said after the recent loss. “I might just see how it ends up. It’s on us for that being our reality. We had an opportunity to take it. Now we have to leave it in someone else’s hands.”

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The fear emerges from the fact that if the Saints beat the Falcons, Tampa Bay will take the NFC South title and the home playoff spot. The Atlanta Falcons (7–9) can create a three-team tie for first place in the NFC South if they beat the Saints on Sunday. The possible victory would mark an extension to their 3-match streak.