Panthers playoff scenarios entering Week 15: How Bryce Young and Co. can clinch post-season berth after 7-6 start

The Carolina Panthers didn’t take the field in Week 14 due to their bye week, but their path to the postseason became a little clearer. Thanks to the New Orleans Saints pulling out a gritty 24-20 victory over the Buccaneers in sloppy Tampa conditions, Carolina remains in the thick of the NFC South chase.

Tampa Bay’s loss means the Panthers are tied for first place in the division this late in the season for the first time in eight years. Carolina hasn’t reached the postseason since 2017, a drought that is tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the second-longest in the NFL.

If the Panthers are going to snap their long playoff drought, the most realistic route is capturing the NFC South title. They’ve shown flashes of a strong team, but inconsistency and a few baffling defeats have held them back. Now, with key players returning to full strength, the final slate of games promises to be interesting.

Carolina Panthers playoff chances after Week 14

The Carolina Panthers control their own destiny. If they weep the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Panthers will return to the playoffs for the first time since the days of Cam Newton. Their first shot comes in Week 16 when the Bucs visit Charlotte, before a rematch in the Jan. 4, 2026 finale in Tampa.

A 2–0 head-to-head record over the Bucs would lock up the division for Carolina, regardless of how the teams fare in their remaining games. Given how tight the division race is, we might learn as soon as Week 16 whether the Panthers will still be playing when mid-January rolls around.

Sportskeeda’s playoff predictor projects the Panthers will fall short of the postseason, finishing 8-9 after losing three of their final four games and placing second in the NFC South behind the Buccaneers.

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s simulator bumped Carolina’s playoff chances from 22% to 31% after Tampa Bay’s Week 14 defeat.

Carolina Panthers' schedule for the rest of the season

Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers will kick off the final four games of the regular season on Sunday against the struggling 3-10 New Orleans Saints. Following that, Carolina will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) in Week 16 and the Seattle Seahawks (10-3) in Week 17, before closing the season on the road against Tampa Bay.

For the Buccaneers, outside of their two matchups with Carolina, they still have games against the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) and Miami Dolphins (6-7) on their schedule.