The Carolina Panthers (8-9) are the 2025 NFC South division champions. They came up short of punching their own ticket Saturday against the Buccaneers. However, the Falcons took down the Saints on Sunday, sending the Big Cats back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. It may not be the most graceful entry into the big dance, but the Panthers are boogying regardless.
Panthers Get Friendly Boost From Falcons
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales opened his press conference with reporters on Sunday, saying, “I’m just so excited for Panthers fans everywhere.” That feeling is likely reciprocated, coach — except for a faction of contrarian fans who feel “their” Panthers didn’t deserve a playoff berth after Saturday’s loss to Tampa Bay. Make no mistake — that’s not how this Panthers team feels about the opportunity they’ve grinded for all season, or about what they’re facing next weekend when hosting a Wild Card playoff game in Charlotte, N.C.
The disappointing result on Saturday showed what happens when opportunities aren’t taken. It was made worse by egregious, untimely officiating blunders.
As discussed in our Week 18 prediction piece, the Panthers’ defense couldn’t get off the field at a successful-enough rate on third downs. The Buccaneers went 8-for-15 (53%). The extended drives led to a significant disparity in time of possession, with Tampa Bay holding a 37:25 to 22:35 advantage. The Panthers’ defense generated only two sacks, despite having several favorable opportunities.
For the second time this season, Bryce Young (24 of 35, 266 passing yards, two touchdowns, one interception) outproduced Baker Mayfield (16 of 22, 203 yards, one TD, one INT) in the box score. Mayfield’s interception in the second quarter led to a Carolina touchdown. Young’s interception just before halftime led to three points for Tampa Bay. Mayfield ranks as the No. 27 quarterback in PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric. Young is No. 33.
The running game was one of the two lopsided differences in the matchup. The Buccaneers rushed for 140 yards (3.3 per carry). Carolina managed just 19 (1.4 per carry). Rico Dowdle struggled for traction on the soggy field during frequent downpours. The most catastrophic moment came when he slipped trying to sell a questionable (to be polite) fourth-quarter flea flicker. The errant toss to Young led to a fumble that Carolina lost in its own red zone instead of scoring.
It wasn’t the only time scoring chances were taken off the board for the Panthers in this game. On the opening possession of the second half, the Panthers faced a predicament I had never seen before. On a first-and-10, Young tossed a swing pass to Dowdle. The running back couldn’t reel it in, and officials whistled the play dead. That was the moment all absurdity broke loose.
After conferring, the officials ruled the pass a backward pass, making it a live football. They said the ball went out of bounds and would be second down from that spot. Unfortunately for the crew, the game was on national television. Millions of viewers saw Dowdle pick up the ball off the ground. Realizing that others could hear what they were saying and selling, the referees conferred again and ruled that the whistle was an erroneous stoppage.
Per PFWA Pool Reporter Greg Auman’s interview with referee Brad Allen after the game, the Panthers should have been allowed to replay that down. Instead, officials ruled the play a seven-yard loss, moving Carolina to second-and-17. Two plays later, rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 54-yard field goal attempt, keeping the score 13-7.
On Carolina’s next third-quarter possession, Young hit Panthers rookie receiving record holder Tetairoa McMillan for 32 yards on third-and-2. Officials flagged McMillan for offensive pass interference, a call NFL officiating expert Walt Anderson struggled to explain or defend Sunday.
Carolina punted two plays later. The Buccaneers’ ensuing drive ended in a field goal, making it 16-7. Tampa Bay also gained 13 yards on a defensive pass interference call when Cade Otton tripped over his own feet while trying to catch a pass against Nick Scott.
Shifting Focus to the NFL Playoffs, the Panthers Are Ready for a Rematch
The Panthers must play better. A nonexistent ground game will not bring postseason success. The defense must finish pressures and turn them into sacks. If Robert Hunt returns, that would certainly provide a boost.
Carolina will host the Los Angeles Rams in a rematch from Week 13. The Panthers pulled off a 31-28 home victory then. That was the last game the Panthers’ running backs, Dowdle and Hubbard, combined for more than 100 rushing yards. The Carolina defense also intercepted Matthew Stafford twice in that game. The first pick ended his streak of 28 touchdowns without an interception. Just another day at the office, Bryce Young led a game-winning fourth-quarter drive, finished by a 43-yard touchdown strike to McMillan.
The last home wild-card game and last home playoff game also came against an NFC West opponent. The Panthers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-16 on Jan. 3, 2015, and 49-15 in the conference championship on Jan. 24, 2016.
Asked Sunday about facing an opponent they’ve already played, Canales said, “The familiarity gives a level of confidence to know what we’re [Panthers] going up against and how to prepare.” The Panthers’ coach isn’t letting the team formally celebrate just yet. He confirmed that Monday’s practice will be a “full on game plan prep day for the staff” and the “guys [players] will come in and move their bodies, and do some things like that.”
