CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers rookie safety Lathan Ransom has experienced the dramatic highs and lows of playing in the NFL in his first season.
One week after a crucial penalty that led to a costly loss to the New Orleans Saints, Ransom redeemed himself on Sunday by intercepting Baker Mayfield with 42 seconds left to seal the Panthers' 23-20 win over the Buccaneers — allowing Carolina to vault into sole possession of first place in the NFC South.
Click to Gallery
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales celebrates with safety Lathan Ransom after after their win in an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after and interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after and interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after their win in an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
“I faced a lot of adversity, and I heard noise from everybody last week,” Ransom said. “... (But) that’s how you shake back.”
Ransom couldn't have felt much worse last week on the flight home from New Orleans after he was flagged for hitting sliding Saints quarterback Tyler Shough with 9 seconds left on a bang-bang play. Officials flagged Ransom for unnecessary roughness, and the 15-yard penalty turned a difficult 61-yard field goal attempt into a far more makable one from 46 yards.
Charlie Smyth put it through the uprights to complete the Saints' 20-17 come-from-behind win.
Had the Panthers defeated the Saints, they would have only needed to beat the Bucs on Sunday to clinch the NFC South and end a seven-year playoff drought. Instead, the loss left the Panthers on the outside of the playoff bubble.
Ransom said he was hard on himself.
But the fourth-draft pick from Ohio State decided early last week that instead of dwelling on the mistake he'd use it as motivation.
“I understand that the game is not won or lost by one play, but people behind their phone are going to have their own opinions,” Ransom said. “I just heard all the noise — listened to it and used it as fuel for this game.”
Ransom leaned on the support last week of veteran defensive leaders such as Jaycee Horn, Derrick Brown and Mike Jackson, who shares the locker next to him.
Jackson and others advised to look ahead, not back and keeping playing at full speed.
“He responded like a grown man should," Jackson said. “At the end of day, everyone was talking trash to him, like he shouldn't be in the game and this and that. And today he responded like he should be. I'll just say I'm proud of him. Because at the end of the day it's grown man football and he showed that.”
Panthers coach Dave Canales greeted Ransom on the sideline with a huge hug after interception, and smiled as he spoke about the rookie after the game.
“That’s a great story,” Canales said. “That’s fantastic and it’s just about belief and having confidence in our guys to be able to be studs about the things we need to work on and be studs about the different decisions that come up. I love that for Lathan — for him to be able to make the winning play, the biggest play of the game for us.”
The Panthers will need more big plays from Ransom and other young players if they hope to dethrone the Buccaneers, who have won the last four NFC South titles.
Carolina can clinch the division with a win next week against Seattle and a Tampa Bay loss to Miami. But if the Bucs win, it will come down to a rematch in Week 18 for the division title.
“I’ve learned a bunch throughout the season, especially from that first game,” Ransom said. “You’re going to learn. It’s a learning process. You’re playing with the best of the best. I learn more and more every game and I try to take those teachings into the next game.”
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales celebrates with safety Lathan Ransom after after their win in an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after and interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after and interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after their win in an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A surprise 38-yard touchdown pass from Taysom Hill to Chris Olave might have deprived New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth a chance to set a club record in just his fourth career game.
When Smyth, an American football neophyte from Northern Ireland, realized the significance of the play in what might wind up being Hill's last home game in a Saints uniform, he was “super pumped up” for Hill.
Chris Olave caught touchdown passes from Hill and starter Tyler Shough, Smyth tied a Saints record with five field goals and New Orleans extended its winning streak to three with a 29-6 victory over the reeling New York Jets on Sunday.
“I don't know what the future holds for me, but it was a special day for me and my family,” Hill, choking up briefly and crediting coach Kellen Moore with making "a concerted effort to give me more opportunities, given the circumstances.”
The 35-year-old Hill entered the NFL as a quarterback and became a dynamic, all-around offensive and special teams player. He finished with 116 total yards with 42 rushing, 36 receiving and his scoring pass in fourth quarter.
His receiving total gave him 1,002 yards for his career, making him the first player in the Super Bowl era to have more than 1,000 career yards passing, rushing and receiving.
Cameron Jordan had two sacks for New Orleans (5-10), giving him 130 for his career and moving the 15th-year defensive end two ahead of Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson for 17th most in NFL history. Jordan, now with a team-high 8 1/2 sacks this season, has had at least eight sacks in nine seasons.
Jordan, who does not have a contract for next season, but also does not plan to retire, said he also had more than two dozen relatives and close family friends in the stands. Many had large cutouts of Jordan's head.
“We're going to hit the streets tonight,” Jordan said. “I've never seen myself not being in black and gold. ... I've always wanted to be here unless you don't want me.”
Shough, drafted 40th overall last spring, passed for 308 yards to eclipse 300 for the first time while improving to 4-3 as a starter.
“We're super proud of what we're putting together,” Shough said. “The season hasn't gone exactly as we wanted it to, but we kind of stayed resilient through that.”
Undrafted rookie Brady Cook made his second start with the Jets (3-12), who've lost three straight and five of six. But coach Aaron Glenn indicated the Jets intend to continue playing Cook to get a more complete evaluation of his potential.
“He gives us the best chance to win,” Glenn said. “He wouldn’t be in there if we didn’t believe that.”
Cook was sacked eight times, and figured he probably deserved some blame for that for not throwing early enough.
“It’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on in the moment, but at the end of the day I need to get the ball out,” Cook said.
Cook lost a fumble when ex-Jet Nathan Shepherd flattened him and defensive end Chase Young recovered, leading to Smyth's 50-yard field goal. Cook also was intercepted by rookie safety Jonas Sanker on a fourth-down play in the fourth quarter, leading to Smyth's final field goal from 39 yards.
He finished 22 of 35 for 188 yards, after which he said he was “extremely disappointed.”
“We came here prepared, ready to win this game, and we didn’t do it,” Cook said. “All we can do now is go back to work. We have two games left, and we need to play for each other and fight for each other and find a way to get a win.”
Both teams struggled to sustain drives in the first half, but did get within field goal range a handful of times.
Jets kicker Nick Folk was good from 29 and 36 yards.
Smyth hit from 35, 49 and 36 yards to give the Saints a 9-6 lead. The third field goal was set up by a fake punt in which Hill, the upback, took the snap and gained 2 yards on fourth and 1.
Smyth also attempted a 61-yarder as time ran out in the first half, but pulled it wide left.
The Jets set an NFL record by going without an interception for their 15th consecutive game.
Jets: DL Jay Tufele injured his foot in the first half.
Saints: TE Foster Moreau came up limping after hurting his ankle during a third-quarter reception and went to the locker room after being examined on the sideline. ... DT Bryan Bresee hurt his knee in the third quarter, but was able to walk gingerly off the field without assistance before heading to the locker room.
Jets: Host the New England Patriots next Sunday.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) sacks New York Jets quarterback Brady Cook during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
From left, New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, outside linebacker Demario Davis and cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) celebrate after a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough makes a call during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth (39) kicks a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, left, celebrates with quarterback Tyler Shough (6) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall)
