Cam Newton was still the quarterback when the Carolina Panthers last made the postseason. However, the NFC South team has a chance to make the playoffs this season.
Under the leadership of Dave Canales, the franchise has made strides and is just a week away from ending the long drought to clinch its first playoff appearance since the 2017 season.
Panthers’ Playoff Scenarios
The path to the playoffs for the Panthers was simple. If they had beaten the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they would have been the NFC South champions and the No. 4 seed in the NFC. They would have finished the season 9-8, while the Buccaneers would have been at 7-10.
Unfortunately, the Panthers suffered a loss in Week 18, and their path to the playoffs has become tougher. Now, Tampa Bay and Carolina are tied at 8-9, with the Buccaneers holding the tiebreaker due to their better record against common opponents.
But there’s still a way for the Panthers to make the playoffs. They now need some outside help from the Atlanta Falcons. If the Falcons defeat the Saints, they would also be 8-9. Although Atlanta already has no chance to win, this would trigger a three-way tiebreaker, which would favor the Panthers because they have beaten the Falcons twice.
According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, the Buccaneers currently have a 35% chance to win the division and make the playoffs, while the Panthers have a 65% chance.
MORE: 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Dante Moore Spells Geno Smith, Carnell Tate Blesses Big Apple
Their chances are still high because they can make the playoffs, depending on how the cards fall into place. The Panthers are grateful to have a potential lifeline, as they were unable to secure the win in Tampa Bay.
The Panthers and Buccaneers have tried to give each other the opportunity to win the division, but neither team has taken advantage of it. Instead, it is now up to the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints to decide the division.
The Panthers were the favorites in Week 18 as the Buccaneers have lost seven of their last eight games. Carolina hasn’t been great, but they’ve had quality wins and performances worth being encouraged about. The Panthers’ offense ranks just 26th in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric with an impact score of 69.4, while their opponent, Tampa Bay, comes in at 22nd.
Carolina will now be all aboard the Falcons train as their fate lies in the hands of Kirk Cousins and his teammates.
