CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – The Carolina Panthers are one big step closer to the playoffs, thanks to another Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss.
The Buccaneers and Falcons met on Thursday Night Football in what was a crucial NFC South matchup, particularly for the Buccaneers — and Panthers, who weren’t even playing.
Entering Thursday’s game, the Panthers and Buccaneers were tied atop the NFC South division standings with 7-6 records. Thursday’s 29-28, last-second loss dropped Tampa Bay to 7-7, which gave Carolina sole possession of the division lead. The Buccaneers have now lost five of their past six games after they started the season 6-2.
Whoever wins the division will get an automatic playoff berth, while the loser appears unlikely to get a wild card spot. That means that for the Panthers and Bucs, winning the division is likely their only ticket into the postseason.
If Carolina could make the playoffs, it would be the first time since 2017, and would mark their first NFC South title since 2015 — the season where they went to the Super Bowl. In fact, The Athletic’s Joe Person reported that this is the first time Carolina has been in sole possession of first place this late in a season since 2015.
First thing’s first, though, and the Panthers need to take care of business. If they win this Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, they would advance to 8-6 and take a full game lead over the Buccaneers. It would also mean the Panthers would have a better record in divisional games, which could become key in the event both teams finish with the same record.
The Carolina Panthers took sole possession of first place in the NFC South, thanks to the Buccaneers’ Week 15 loss.(Jacob Kupferman | AP)
After New Orleans, Carolina will host Tampa at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Then, the Panthers will host the Seahawks and will round out the regular season against the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay.
If the Panthers beat the Saints, then a win against the Buccaneers would clinch the division with two regular-season games to go, regardless of what happens in the second matchup with Tampa.
If Carolina does not beat New Orleans, then it would likely have to beat Tampa Bay both times in order to win the NFC South.
The only way Carolina could still win the division if they lose to New Orleans and don’t sweep Tampa Bay would be if the Panthers beat the Seahawks and split with the Buccaneers, while the Buccaneers would have to lose to the Dolphins.
As it stands on Dec. 12, the Panthers have a 47% chance to make the playoffs, according to NFL.com’s Playoff Picture tool. If they beat the Saints, that chance will rise to 62%. If they lose to the Saints, it will drop to 24%.
Sunday’s game against the Saints is scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. EST kickoff, and will air on Fox.
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