Charlotte’s playoff drought is officially over – the NFL playoffs are coming to Charlotte this weekend.
The Carolina Panthers captured their first NFC South title since 2015 on Sunday after Atlanta edged New Orleans 19-17, creating a three-way tie atop the division at 8-9.
Thanks to their season sweep of the Falcons, Carolina won the tiebreaker and secured the crown despite falling to Tampa Bay the day before.
Atlanta’s victory hinged on a strong defensive showing and four field goals by former Panthers kicker Zane Gonzalez, whose performance proved decisive in tightening the division race. A Saints touchdown erased by offensive pass interference also shifted momentum, giving Panthers fans watching from home more reason to cheer as the standings tightened.
The Panthers’ own 16-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday came down to late-game miscues. A fourth-quarter turnover — sparked when Rico Dowdle slipped and flicked the ball toward Bryce Young — stalled a promising drive and allowed Tampa Bay to run down the clock. Carolina rallied behind Young, who hit Tetairoa McMillan for a 40-yard gain on fourth-and-8, a catch that set a new franchise rookie receiving record and set up Jalen Coker’s touchdown. However, the comeback came too late.
Missed opportunities defined much of the second half. The Panthers converted only one of eight third downs, while Tampa Bay went 8-for-15. Several officiating decisions also drew frustration, including a backward-pass ruling on Young, an offensive pass interference that erased a 31-yard gain, and a pass interference call on Nick Scott after Bucs tight end Cade Otton appeared to fall on his own.
Despite Saturday’s challenges, Charlotte now turns its attention to hosting its first home playoff game in ten years. The Panthers will face the NFC West runner-up next weekend. If the Rams beat Arizona later today, Los Angeles will travel to Charlotte; if the Cardinals win, the 49ers will head east for the wild card matchup.
For fans across the Queen City, the chaos of Week 18 delivered the result that matters most — playoff football is returning to Carolina.
Click here for tickets to this weekend’s Rams vs Panthers Wildcard Game at Bank of America Stadium.
