CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – With only two games left in the regular season, the Carolina Panthers are in the thick of the NFL playoff race.
The Panthers and rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers will duke it out for the NFC South division title over the final two games, with the winner guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, as well as a home playoff game.
Whichever team does not win will miss the postseason with the wild card out of reach for both the Panthers and Buccaneers.
Coming into the penultimate week of the 2025 regular season, the Panthers currently have the edge with an 8-7 record. The Buccaneers sit 7-8 after Carolina beat Tampa Bay in Charlotte on Dec. 21.
Over the final two games, the Panthers will host the Seahawks and then travel to play the Buccaneers. Meanwhile the Buccaneers will play the Dolphins on the road this week before they match up with the Panthers again in the regular season finale.
There are a couple paths the Panthers could take to make the playoffs, one of which would secure a postseason berth this week.
If Carolina beats Seattle and Tampa Bay loses to Miami, the Panthers’ record would move to 9-7 while the Buccaneers would fall to 7-9. That would give Carolina an insurmountable two-game lead heading into the regular season finale.
Carolina would also guarantee itself a playoff spot if it beats Tampa Bay in Week 18.
The Panthers would clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Seahawks and a Bucs loss to the Dolphins.(Butch Dill | AP)
Below are some scenarios in which both teams could secure postseason berths. The Panthers have not made the playoffs since 2017, and have not won the NFC South since 2015.
Sunday’s Panthers game against the Seahawks is set for a 1 p.m. EST kickoff on WBTV/CBS. The Buccaneers and Dolphins also play at 1 p.m. and will air on Fox across most of both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Panthers clinch if:Scenario 1:Panthers beat Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs lose to DolphinsScenario 2:Panthers lose to Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs lose to DolphinsPanthers beat Bucs in Week 18Scenario 3:Panthers lose to Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs beat DolphinsPanthers beat Bucs in Week 18Scenario 4:Panthers lose to Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs lose to DolphinsFalcons beat Rams in Week 17Panthers lose to Bucs in Week 18Falcons beat Saints in Week 18Bucs clinch if:Scenario 1:Panthers lose to Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs lose to DolphinsBucs beat Panthers in Week 18Scenario 2:Panthers beat Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs beat DolphinsBucs beat Panthers in Week 18Scenario 3:Panthers lose to Seahawks in Week 17, Bucs beat DolphinsBucs beat Panthers in Week 18Click here for more Panthers coverage
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