Panthers end up falling backwards into the playoffs and now it’s time to turn the page on everything that’s happened
The Carolina Panthers have clinched the NFC South title and will host a playoff game.
It was a somber Sunday morning for the Carolina Panthers after blowing a final opportunity to punch their own ticket to the playoffs, but little hope still remained for the team.
The way things shook out in the NFC South, the Panthers still had one last chance to clinch the division title via a three-way tie saying the Atlanta Falcons could beat the New Orleans Saints. In that three-way tie at 8-9, the Panthers would hold the tie-breaker and win the division.
That’s exactly what happened on Sunday and the season continues into the playoffs for the Panthers, ending a seven season playoff drought for the franchise.
Panthers officially clinch NFC South title and playoff berth despite Week 18 loss
On Sunday, the Falcons defeated the Saints by a final score of 19-17 withstanding a late fourth quarter rally by New Orleans. It was a meaningless game for those two teams, but a monumental one for the Panthers being able to finally get into the dance.
Say what you want about the playoff seeding rules, but it’s truly anyone’s game now.
“When you’re in the playoffs, that’s a tremendous feat regardless of how you slice it up, regardless of what your record is, regardless of what other divisions look like,” Panthers safety Nick Scott said, via Panthers.com. “If you’re in the playoffs, based on how everything’s set up, you did enough to be there, you deserve to be there. And we’ll be ready to play hard and fight.”
Its not the way anyone in Carolina imagined getting into the postseason but none of what happened before in the regular season matters anymore. The Panthers are in and still learned an important lesson in Week 18 that the team can now carry into the playoffs.
“We have to find a way to be able to play in these types of games, and I’m really excited about our group,” Panthers head coach Dave Canales said. “I’m really excited about the different pieces that we’re getting going, and I told the group, we don’t ever have to feel this way again. We can build from this. We have to take the next steps and make sure that we show up with a championship mindset.”
The Panthers next game will be played at Bank of America Stadium next weekend against either the San Francisco 49ers or the Los Angeles Rams, two teams the Panthers already played earlier in the season.
Carolina Panthers News
Derrick Brown understands the tough reality of the Panthers’ loss and he’s not happy about it
He has every right to be frustrated with how Saturday’s game went.
