SAMUEL SHINES

Pending unrestricted free agent made the most of a little more national attention, with another standout performance.

Samuel finished the game with a career highs in rushing (52), receiving (106) and scrimmage yards (158).

He also had a career-best 45-yard rush, the longest run of the year for the Panthers (eclipsing the 28-yarder by Jeremy Chinn on a fake punt against the Falcons).

All that could be pricing him out of a return to Carolina, but Samuel has proven his value this year, on a team which also features a pair of 1,000-yard receivers.

YOUNG MAKES HIS CASE

Washington defensive end Chase Young was already the favorite to win defensive rookie of the year, and Sunday’s game likely cemented that.

Young had a strip-sack-fumble, and forced an interception by hitting Teddy Bridgewater’s arm