HOW PANTHERS PLAYOFF HOPES STACKUP AS OF TODAY

How Panthers stack up in updated NFC playoff picture after Christmas

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
The Seahawks are in the driver's seat for the number one overall seed in the NFC with two games to go. A pair of wins against the Panthers and San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 will give them homefield advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs.

2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
The Bears are ready to pounce if the Seahawks slip up in the driver's seat. If the Bears were to win their final two games, coupled with a Seahawks loss to either the Panthers or the Niners, they will have the number one seed and home field advantage.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
The Eagles are likely wedged into the number three seed after winning the NFC East. That likely means facing off against one of the three NFC West playoff teams.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)
The Panthers can win the NFC South and the No. 4 seed with a win against the Seahawks and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss against the Miami Dolphins. If the Panthers lose or the Buccaneers win, it will all come down to the Week 18 matchup between the two teams in Tampa.

5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
The Niners are currently the number five seed, but they control their own destiny. Wins against the Bears and Seahawks to end the season would give them the number one seed in the NFC.

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
The Rams need to win their final two games, but also need the Seahawks and Niners to lose a game in order to advance further in the standings. Given the fact that they play each other in Week 18, they have a good chance to move up to number 5. In order to move up to No. 1, each of them will have to lose in Week 17.

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
The Packers are the likely No. 7 seed in the NFC.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
The Bucs need to either win against the Buccaneers or ensure that the Panthers lose to the Seahawks.   (I guess they are fighting themselves lol)  

Idc how it ends, best season in 10 years. Freaking progress!

I was reading yesterday that there is a convoluted scenario where the Bucs beat us and we can still win the division. It starts actually with this weekend and the falcons beating the rams, the saints losing to the titans and then the falcons beating the saints.

Here you go from the panthers web site:

The one weirdo possibility — which again, it's the NFC South, and we can't discount it — comes into play if the Panthers lose to the Seahawks, the Bucs lose to the Dolphins, and the Bucs win in Week 18. That would leave both teams at 8-9, with identical 3-3 division records. That would again give the advantage to the Bucs, based on the common games tiebreaker.
Unless, ...
If the 6-9 Falcons win their final two games of the season (against the Rams and Saints, both at home), they could force a three-way tie atop the division. If that happens, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head among the three teams. In that instance, the Panthers would win based on sweeping the Falcons to give them a 3-1 mark in those games, while the Falcons and Bucs split their games, leaving the Bucs at 2-2 in that scenario..

Just take care of YOUR business. Remind yourself you shouldn’t be in this position now. You should have it wrapped up but you don’t so don’t let it happen again. Even if your opponent is not the lowly lowly lowly Saints.

Interesting, FC...

But you're correct. We should've had this wrapped up earlier.  There is absolutely no reason for the Panthers to have lost to the Saints, especially at home --- and ESPECIALLY TWICE..!! By all measurable outcomes and probabilities the Panthers should be 10-5 right now with the Division wrapped up and two "no pressure" games left to play. Instead we're mired in a situation with NO room to even take an easy breath.There's plenty of blame to go around, but believe this -- this mess is our own doing.

Interesting, FC...

But you're correct. We should've had this wrapped up earlier.  There is absolutely no reason for the Panthers to have lost to the Saints, especially at home --- and ESPECIALLY TWICE..!! By all measurable outcomes and probabilities the Panthers should be 10-5 right now with the Division wrapped up and two "no pressure" games left to play. Instead we're mired in a situation with NO room to even take an easy breath.There's plenty of blame to go around, but believe this -- this mess is our own doing.

Interesting, FC...

But you're correct. We should've had this wrapped up earlier.  There is absolutely no reason for the Panthers to have lost to the Saints, especially at home --- and ESPECIALLY TWICE..!! By all measurable outcomes and probabilities the Panthers should be 10-5 right now with the Division wrapped up and two "no pressure" games left to play. Instead we're mired in a situation with NO room to even take an easy breath.There's plenty of blame to go around, but believe this -- this mess is our own doing.

^^^^^THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

One thing we MUST do today; we have to take the safety belts off.  We have to take some chances on (for example) 4th and goal, to GO FOR IT rather than settle for 3 points.  I promise you, the Seahawks won't be settling for 3 points.  

HEY FC....

You may not believe this, but ....... Your scenario as you described it up there ^^^ is about to come true.!!

1) The Panthers lost to Seattle
2) The Bucs lost to the Dolphins !!! (Really.?? - ???)
3) The Falcons beat the Rams !!!  (WTH is going on.??)  

SO...

All that is left is for the Falcons to beat the Saints this week.

If that should happen, and the Panthers should lose to the Bucs ---- there would be a 3-way tie for the Division at 8-9..... And that weird tie-breaker scenario would come into play. OTOH - If the Panthers should win against the Bucs, it won't matter. The Panthers would take the Division. But if the Panthers lose ..... a 3-way tie ???

I haven't looked up the actual numbers for the tie-breaker scenario, but I assume "others" have or that scenario would not have been published. 
So ......

I guess we'll wait and see.

I heard a new one today.

If the Panthers lose and the rest of the NFL wins the Panthers are in the playoffs and with a first round bye.

Ha fc!

We had this in another thread

7 hours ago - Report post #6
(8 hours ago)OceanPanther Wrote:
So ... should we lose on Sat ( HIGHLY DOUBTFUL ) and the falcons beat the saints, we'd still be CHAMPIONS ,, ? Correct ?
Re:

I think we win Saturday . Then we can all enjoy the post season.-op

You are correct! Honestly the most Panthers way to get in would be a loss n a Falcons win. Lmao
Reply Edit Delete

Also we’d avoid a winning record, setting up a CHANCE next year for one. Never had back to back winning seasons. We can start now I guess. :).

I’m happy where we’re at, competitive till the final week! Kudos to these guys for that alone! What a ride! I got a crazier theory if we get in!!! Stay tuned!