NFC South standings: How Buccaneers win over Panthers impacts playoff picture

6 days ago 2

The Carolina Panthers had a chance to clinch the NFC South with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18.

Dave Canales' squad couldn't quite achieve that goal. The Panthers lost 16-14 in a rainy, defensive slog, during which they generated just 19 rushing yards on 14 carries against a strong Buccaneers run defense.

The defeat puts the Panthers into a first-place tie with the Buccaneers in the NFC South standings. Tampa Bay currently holds the advantage needed to make the 2025 NFL postseason, but Carolina still has a path to the postseason despite having no games remaining. The Panthers just need to get help from one of their divisional rivals to earn their first postseason berth since 2017.

Here's what to know about the NFC South standings and how the division title for 2025 will be decided.

NFC South standings

The Buccaneers overtook the Panthers in the NFC South standings by virtue of their 16-14 Week 18 win. Below is a look at the full divisional standings:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Carolina Panthers (8-9)

The Buccaneers currently have an edge over the Panthers by virtue of the NFL's "common games" tiebreaker. The two teams split their season series and each finished with 3-3 division records, but Tampa Bay finished with a better winning percentage against common opponents.

That said, the Panthers still haven't quite been eliminated from postseason contention. There remains a way they can backdoor their way into the playoffs during the NFL Sunday slate in Week 18.

Can the Panthers still make the playoffs?

Yes, the Panthers can still make the playoffs. They just need to get help from one of their divisional rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, for that to happen.

The Panthers need the Falcons to beat the New Orleans Saints in Week 18 to create a three-way tie atop the NFC South. Such a result would allow the Panthers to get into the playoffs as the NFC South champion, given their head-to-head record against the Buccaneers and the Falcons.

Carolina has a combined 3-1 record against Atlanta and Tampa Bay. By comparison, the Buccaneers are 2-2 against the two teams, while the Falcons went 1-3, primarily because they were swept in the season series by the Panthers.

Panthers playoff scenarios

With that in mind, this is what the Panthers need to have happen on Jan. 4 to make it into the playoffs:

Falcons win vs. Saints

The game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, giving the Falcons home-field advantage in the critical contest.

Buccaneers playoff scenarios

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers will need one of the following outcomes to maintain their current divisional lead over the Panthers:

Saints win or tie at Falcons

New Orleans lost 24-10 to Atlanta in Week 12, so Baker Mayfield and Co. will be hoping for a better showing from the Saints' Tyler Shough-led offense as they look to earn a playoff berth in Week 18.