TAMPA, Fla. (WBTV) – The Carolina Panthers have been in the playoff hunt for weeks now, and it’s come down to do-or-die time.
Entering the final weekend of the NFL’s regular season, the Panthers have two paths to make the playoffs. Both would require them to win the NFC South.
If they beat the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay on Saturday — yes, Saturday, the NFL moved the game to Jan. 3 — the Panthers will make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.
If the Panthers do not beat the Buccaneers, they still have a chance. All they would need would be for the Falcons to beat the Saints on Sunday. Either a Panthers or a Falcons win would get Carolina in — both do not have to happen.
For the visual people, here is a simple breakdown of how the Panthers would end their postseason drought.
Panthers clinch NFC South if:Scenario 1:Panthers beat (or tie) BuccaneersScenario 2:Panthers lose to BuccaneersFalcons beat SaintsBucs clinch NFC South if:Scenario 1:Buccaneers beat PanthersSaints beat Falcons
Because the Panthers have a fallback option if they lose, their chance to win the NFC South division title and thus make the playoffs is fairly high.
NFL.com’s “Playoff Picture” gave them a 76% chance to make the playoffs. Sportsbooks also like Carolina’s odds, with the Panthers set as big favorites to win the division ahead of Saturday’s game.
Time/channel info
As mentioned above, this weekend’s Panthers-Buccaneers game was moved from Sunday, Jan. 4 to Saturday, Jan 3.
Saturday’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on ESPN and ABC, with a 4:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
In case it becomes relevant, Sunday’s Falcons-Saints game will be broadcast on Fox at 1 p.m. EST. That game will be available locally across the vast majority of both North Carolina and South Carolina.
As of Friday morning, FanDuel listed the Panthers as three-point underdogs to the Buccaneers. The Falcons were three-point favorites over the Saints.
The Panthers would make the playoffs with a win over the Bucs, or a Falcons win against the Saints.(Jacob Kupferman | AP)Click here for more Panthers coverage
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