For the first time since 2017, the Carolina Panthers have earned a spot in the playoffs. The Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers both had a record of 8-9 after the Bucs beat the Panthers 16-14 in Week 18. The deciding factor was the New Orleans Saints vs the Atlanta Falcons at the end of Week 18.
The Falcons went into the game with a record of 7-9, meaning if they won, the Panthers would be in the playoffs. The Falcons ultimately won 19-17, prompting the NFL to apply its tiebreaker rules.
With three teams having the same record in their division, the team that had the best record against the other two teams would be awarded number one in their division. Since the Panthers were 3-1 against the Bucs and the Falcons, they were the number one team in the NFC South, guaranteeing them a playoff spot, as well as the number four team in the NFL.
The Panthers went 0-3 in the preseason, which a lot of media outlets thought was a telling factor of how the Panthers’ season was going to go. However, they defied their expectations and had a solid season, showing their promising future.
Some key players on this roster include quarterback Bryce Young, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, running back Rico Dowdle, cornerback Jayce Horn and linebacker C.J. Rozeboom. These players are also leaders in their position. Young leads in passing yards (3,011); McMillan leads the Panthers and all rookies in receiving yards with 1,014; Dowdle has 1,076 rushing yards; Horn has three interceptions and Rozeboom has 122 tackles.
“[It’s a] great opportunity, [I’m] super excited,” said Young. “And now, it’s about making something out of it. Today was a good start, but we have to make sure that we’re dialed into the process.”
One of Young’s main concerns coming into the league was his size; however, he has continued to grow and believes in his guys. With young players like Young, McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr., Panthers fans are excited for the future of this franchise.
The Panthers’ first matchup will be against the Los Angeles Rams Jan. 10 at 4:30 p.m. They are led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, a nominee for MVP and wide receiver Puka Nacua, a nominee for Offensive Player of the Year. The Panthers already beat the Rams in week 13, 31-28, so fans are hoping they can go 2-0.
Oddsmakers heavily favored the Rams (-617), while the Panthers entered the match as significant underdogs (+451), highlighting how little confidence analysts have in Carolina. They are also a 10.5-point underdog going into Saturday’s game.
Despite being counted out before the season began, the Panthers proved that predictions don’t define the outcome. By staying competitive and believing in each other, the Panthers took advantage of every opportunity and learned how to turn doubt into motivation.
