Panthers playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18

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The Carolina Panthers will have two paths to the postseason in Week 18.

If they want to do it the more conventional way, they'll have to take care of their own business. A win, or tie, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday would clinch the Panthers their first playoff berth since 2017 and their first NFC South title since 2015.

Head coach Dave Canales talked about having this very opportunity on Monday afternoon.

"It's a true championship moment," Canales told reporters. "Shirts-and-hats games—it's what you work so hard for all year. It's right in front of us. Prime-time football in Tampa. It's gonna be fantastic, we're excited about it and that's enough. That's enough for the guys to understand—this is your shot, this is the last shot we have."

Carolina's second shot at extra football hinges on the outcome of the second NFC South showdown of the week, where the Atlanta Falcons host the New Orleans Saints.

If the Falcons defeat the Saints and the Panthers lose to the Bucs, there'd be a three-way tie atop the division—with Carolina, Tampa Bay and Atlanta all at 8-9. This scenario would favor the Panthers, who would hold the round-robin head-to-head tiebreaker (3-1) over the Bucs (2-2) and Falcons (1-3).

So to recap, here are the two ways the Panthers can take the South this weekend: