Breaking the Seven-Year Playoff Drought
The Carolina Panthers have ended their seven-year playoff drought, securing a spot in the postseason as NFC South champions for the first time since 2015.
NFC South Title Achieved
The Panthers clinched the division title thanks to the Atlanta Falcons’ narrow 19-17 victory over the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite losing their previous game 16-14 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina managed to advance due to their 3-1 record against the other two teams in the division, including a perfect 2-0 against Atlanta.
Final Regular Season Standings
- All three teams—Falcons, Panthers, and Saints—finished the regular season with an 8-9 record.
- The Falcons closed the season with four consecutive victories, including their win over the Saints.
- Had the Saints defeated or drawn with the Falcons, the Bucs would have claimed the division title.
Unconventional Playoff Qualification
The Panthers became the first team since at least 1990 to secure a playoff spot in the final week of the regular season, despite losing their last game and ending with a losing record.
Looking Ahead: Wild Card Matchup
The Panthers’ next opponent in the NFC Wild Card game remains undecided. If the Los Angeles Rams defeat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, the Rams will travel to Charlotte. The Panthers narrowly lost 31-28 to the Rams on November 30 at the Bank of America Stadium.
Should the Rams lose, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers (12-5) will face the Panthers. The 49ers previously defeated Carolina 20-9 during a “Monday Night Football” game in week 12.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the Carolina Panthers? The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) South division.
- Why is this playoff appearance significant? This marks the end of a seven-year playoff drought for the Panthers, who last qualified in 2015. Their return to postseason contention is notable due to securing a playoff spot despite losing their final regular-season game.
- Who are the Panthers’ potential playoff opponents? The Panthers could face either the Los Angeles Rams or the San Francisco 49ers in their NFC Wild Card game. The outcome of the Rams’ matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday will determine their opponent.
