SEATTLE – When the regular season comes to a close, Sunday's victory officially will mean exactly as much the Panthers' previous victory over a Tampa Bay team that dropped its 11th consecutive home game.
And when the Panthers take the field again next Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, the victory won't mean a thing.
But in the moment, when the final second ticked off the clock, it meant the world to anyone associated with the Panthers.
And moments like that are what the crazy games we play and watch are all about.
"When Greg caught that ball, there was just so much bottled up in myself, and I know everybody else was the same way," quarterback Cam Newton said after his 26-yard touchdown strike to tight end Greg Olsen with 32 seconds left capped a nine-point rally and forged a 27-23 victory over Carolina's No. 1 nemesis, the Seattle Seahawks.
What was bottled up spilled out in a celebration worthy of such a win, especially in light of the seemingly unlikely nature of it.
"When you get a late touchdown like that in a hostile environment, it puts everything in perspective about why you work so hard, why you play through injuries," Newton continued. "When you're in the huddle and you see 10 guys staring back at you, you can't let those guys down."
The Panthers' rise from a 2-14 record in 2010 – the year before Newton was the No. 1 overall pick and two years before linebacker Luke Kuechly was the No. 9 overall pick – has included plenty of ups and downs, but the Panthers have never gotten down on themselves.
Resiliency has been a buzzword throughout – from a 9-3 record over the final six games of Newton's first two otherwise struggling seasons; to an 11-1 finish following a 1-3 start in 2013; and onto a four-game winning streak to close last season that followed a six-game losing skid and earned a second straight playoff berth.
The Seahawks, however, had remained resistance to that resilience – until now. In 2012, they dropped Carolina into a 1-4 hole with a 16-12 victory in which the Panthers fell one yard short of victory. In 2013, the season opener saw Seattle steal a 12-7 victory, the Seahawks' first step toward becoming eventual Super Bowl champions.
Then last season, Carolina's six-game losing streak began with a loss to Green Bay followed by another heartbreaker against Seattle, this one by a 13-9 count. As if that wasn't enough, the Panthers' subsequent rally that included a playoff victory came to a halt when the Seahawks secured a 31-17 triumph over Carolina in the NFC Divisional Playoff, in Seattle.
"It was on everybody's minds, whether you were here last year or not," second-year guard Trai Turner said. "That feeling wasn't good. This shows the resiliency of this team to come back here and do what we were supposed to against all odds."
The odds did look long – longer than the previous three regular season meetings to be sure – when the Seahawks kicked a field goal with 11:46 left for a 23-14 lead and when Carolina had to kick the ball back to Seattle after failing to pick up a first down with 10:06 left.
But the Panthers' defense allowed just one first down the rest of the way, and the offense pieced together back-to-back touchdown drives of 80 yards to go with two 80-yard marches earlier in the game.
"To go 80 yards on them four times and score touchdowns, I don't know if many people can do that," Olsen said. "That's a great defense. They're a special group, especially at home. It speaks to the kind of guys we have."
And the 5-0 Panthers have the look of a special group as well, something that Seattle finally understands first-hand.
"This means a lot because these are the NFC champs two years in a row and Super Bowl champs two seasons ago," head coach Ron Rivera said. "That's a good football team we faced. Who knows, maybe we will face them again."
View game action photos from Carolina's 27-23 win over Seattle.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton reacts after he rushed for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle.. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes the ball as teammate Will Tukuafu (46) blocks Carolina Panthers' Thomas Davis (58) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson passes against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) comes down with an interception next to Carolina Panthers' Jerricho Cotchery in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, right, reacts after catching a pass for a first down against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, center, runs between Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly, left, and Mario Addison (97) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka, right, and holder Jon Ryan watch as Hauschka's kick bounces off the uprights but still goes through for a field goal in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, center, rushes for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, left, tries to break up a scuffle involving Carolina Panthers' Josh Norman and several Seahawks players in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, tries to get away from Carolina Panthers defensive end Wes Horton, center, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, right, runs past Carolina Panthers' cornerback Josh Norman (24) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll tosses the challenge flag as he talks to line judge Tom Stephan (68) to challenge a call during an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) scores a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton passes against the Seattle Seahawks in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, right, scrambles with the football as teammate Andrew Norwell (68) blocks in the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette (83) makes a touchdown catch above Carolina Panthers free safety Kurt Coleman (20) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Carolina Panthers tight end Ed Dickson, left, flies toward Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) after Chancellor intercepted a pass in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart dives in for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of an NFL football game as Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks on, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll reacts to a play in the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Panthers defeated the Seahawks 27-23. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch rushes against Carolina Panthers' Ryan Delaire (91) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is tackled by Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Mike Morgan (57) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, top, leaps over Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Mike Morgan (57) to score a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, (28) is greeted by teammate Mike Tolbert, right, after scoring a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, tries to fend off Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Shaq Thompson, left, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Panthers defeated the Seahawks 27-23. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks fans at CenturyLink Field yell as Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) awaits the snap in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
ALTERNATE CROP - Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen, right, catches a pass for a touchdown ahead of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, left, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Panthers defeated the Seahawks 27-23. (AP Photo/Ryan Kang)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates after he threw a touchdown pass to Greg Olsen in the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Panthers won 27-23. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, center, is greeted by Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, following an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. The Panthers beat the Seahawks 27-23. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates after the Panthers beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-23 in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
