The Carolina Panthers are in the relatively new position of having to pay attention to their own path(s?!) to the NFL playoffs as they prepare to play meaningful December football for the first time in years.
At 7-6, the Panthers are second in the NFC South—behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by half a game—and fifth place in the wildcard race—there are only three wildcard berths. Here is the NFC playoff picture as of this morning:
NFC Playoff Picture
Division leaders
- Chicago Bears, 9-3
- Los Angeles Rams, 9-3
- Philadelphia Eagles, 8-4
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7-5
Wildcard teams
- Seattle Seahawks, 9-3
- Green Bay Packers, 8-3-1
- San Francisco 49ers, 9-4
In the hunt
- Detroit Lions, 8-5
- Carolina Panthers, 7-6
- Dallas Cowboys, 6-6-1
The whole picture
The first thing you’ll notice is that this is, appropriately, a list of the best teams in the NFL and then also the Bucs, Panthers, and Cowboys. The second thing you’ll notice is that the list of best teams in the NFL is mostly made up of teams that the Panthers either beat, lost to in a competitive game, or are scheduled to play.
The Bears, Eagles, and Lions are the only teams in the NFC playoff picture that do not appear on the Panthers regular season schedule. Carolina beat the Cowboys, Packers, and Rams and only lost to the 49ers because they refused to take advantage of the opportunities they created in the first half. Whatever happens, if the Panthers make the playoffs then they will have a resume that rivals any other team.
The NFC South title
The Panthers best and most obvious path to the playoffs involves taking the NFC south crown away from the Bucs. Both the Panthers and the Bucs have some impressive wins, head scratching losses, and rosters deeply scarred by injuries. Both teams are also getting healthier as the final stretch of their regular seasons approaches.
The obvious rooting suggestion for today is to swallow your bile and root for the New Orleans Saints over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Charlotte and much of western North Carolina will be getting this game as the 1:00 PM ET game on CBS. The rest of North Carolina will be seeing Pittsburgh at Baltimore, with no playoff relevant games appearing on FOX.
The Saints knocking off the Bucs eases Carolina’s path to the crown by putting the two teams tied for first in the NFC South. Tie breaker between the two aren’t particularly relevant right now, with the bulk of the divisional schedule left to be played. No matter what happens today, the division will still be likely to be decided by the Week 16 and 18 series between the Panthers and Bucs.
Dwindling wildcard scenarios
The 49ers are also enjoying a late bye this week, so the only wildcard relevant games are Seahawks at Falcons and Bears at Packers. The playoffs make for strange relationships near the end of the season, because technically we are supposed to be rooting for the Bears and the Falcons today. The Packers and Seahawks losing eases the Panthers road to a wildcard berth.
The most realistic shot Carolina has at the playoffs is if the Packers fall off. Because of their tie against the Cowboys in Week 4, the Panthers own tie breaker is unlikely to come into play. The good news is that the Packers have to play the Bears twice, the Broncos, and the Ravens in the next four weeks. That is as brutal a schedule as anybody has in the NFL.
The Panthers need the Packers and at least one other team to fall out of contention to make a wildcard spot. The 49ers own a tie-breaker over the Panthers, the Seahawks game could be pivotal for the Panthers in Week 17, and the Detroit Lions have big games remaining against the Rams and the Bears. It’s a tough road for the young coach and quarterback combo that the Carolina Panthers are sporting, but it isn’t an impossible one. Every win by a team above the Panthers in the standings is a nail in the coffin and every loss is their door opening another inch wider. Just remember to root hard against Seattle and Green Bay and you’ll be on the right track.
