CHARLOTTE - In a heart-stopping finish, the Green Bay Packers narrowly clinched a 33-30 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Field on Sunday, improving their record to 7-8 with just two games remaining.

The game featured a thrilling fourth quarter that has become a familiar sight for the Packers on the road. However, this time, the Packers managed to hold on by the slimmest of margins.

With only 19 seconds left on the clock, Packers kicker Anders Carlson confidently connected on a 32-yard field goal, giving Green Bay a 33-30 lead. But it was far from smooth sailing for the Packers as the Panthers' Bryce Young completed two crucial throws on their ensuing drive.

The first completion was a sideline pass to DJ Chark, followed by another to Adam Thielen in the middle of the field. These two throws covered a total of 43 yards, surging the Panthers to the Green Bay 32-yard line. Racing against the clock, the Panthers hurriedly spiked the ball after Thielen was tackled, with the clock seemingly hitting zero as Young's spike made contact with the ground.

Carolina fiercely argued for an additional second to kick a potential game-tying 50-yard field goal. However, after a conference between the officials, it was ruled that time had expired, dashing the Panthers' hopes of a miraculous comeback.

Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur supported the decision, stating, "I thought they snapped the ball with one second, and the play has to take a second. I thought it was the correct decision."

The nail-biting ending overshadowed Green Bay's defensive struggles throughout the game. In the final 19 seconds alone, the Packers conceded 43 crucial yards, adding to the disappointment of allowing back-to-back touchdown drives earlier in the fourth quarter.

Carolina's Bryce Young exhibited impressive playmaking abilities, utilizing a strong arm and agile scrambling to record his first career 300-yard game, accumulating 312 yards, and securing a passer rating of over 100 (113). Young's passes to Chark and Thielen totaled 192 receiving yards, exposing the vulnerabilities of the Packers' defense.

The Packers' offense also faced challenges, being forced into a couple of three-and-outs with the Panthers relentlessly applying pressure. These missed opportunities to seal the game earlier contributed to the nail-biting finish.

Reflecting on his team's late-game collapse, Coach LaFleur remarked, "That was definitely frustrating. But it wasn't just on the defense. Offensively you've got to give them a breather, especially if we're bleeding a little bit defensively."

With this hard-fought victory, the Packers will look to build on their momentum as they head into the final two games of the season. The Panthers, despite their valiant effort, will regroup and search for ways to turn close losses into wins.

The electrifying matchup between the Packers and Panthers in Week 16 showcased the intensity and unpredictability that make football such a thrilling sport.