The Carolina Panthers are looking significantly better as of late, but have they dug themselves too deep of a hole to make the playoffs this season?
Let’s examine the Panthers’ playoff odds, whether they are still alive in the NFC South, and their odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Can the Panthers Make the Playoffs?
Heading into Week 13, the Carolina Panthers are 3-8 and now have a 0.7% chance to make the playoffs.
They have a 0.0% chance for the 1 seed, a <0.1% chance for the second seed, a <0.1% chance for the third seed, a 0.6% chance for the fourth seed, a <0.1% chance for the fifth seed, a <0.1% chance for the sixth seed, and a <0.1% chance for the seventh seed.
Can the Panthers Win the NFC South?
Here’s what the NFC South race looks like after all the action in Week 12:
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a 50.7% chance to win the NFC South.
- The Atlanta Falcons have a 41.8% chance to win the NFC South.
- The New Orleans Saints have a 6.8% chance to win the NFC South.
- The Carolina Panthers have a 0.6% chance to win the NFC South.
Current NFC South Standings
- Atlanta Falcons (6-5)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)
- New Orleans Saints (4-7)
- Carolina Panthers (3-8)
NFC Playoff Race | Week 16
1. Detroit Lions (13-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (11-4)
7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
In The Hunt
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Eliminated From Playoffs
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
14. Chicago Bears (4-11)
15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
16. New York Giants (2-13)
Panthers’ No. 1 Overall Pick Odds Through Week 12
The Panthers currently have 12.5% odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Panthers’ Remaining Schedule
- Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 14: at Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 18: at Atlanta Falcons
What PFN Predicted for the Chiefs vs. Panthers Matchup
Here’s where the Chiefs and Panthers rank in various Pro Football Network metrics.
Kansas City Chiefs, 2024:
- Offense+ Metric: Seventh (B)
- Defense+ Metric: 12th (C+)
- Patrick Mahomes QB+ Metric: 10th (B)
Carolina Panthers, 2024:
- Offense+ Metric: 27th (D)
- Defense+ Metric: 32nd (F)
- Bryce Young QB+ Metric: 38th (F)
On paper, the Chiefs should win this game in a blowout.
Kansas City is better in all three phases, and it could be motivated after last Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. Plus, you obviously can’t pick Young to beat Mahomes.
However, this might be a sneaky-good spot for the Panthers, depending on how you view it. The Chiefs could fall into a trap game after watching their perfect season end last weekend, and Carolina will be looking for its best win in recent memory. And we’re still talking about a Chiefs offense that hasn’t topped 30 points in a single game this season.
As for Young, he’s been decent since sliding back into the starting role in Week 8. In the last three games, the 2023 first-overall pick completed 62.5% of his passes for 521 yards and four TDs along with three interceptions and four sacks.
No, those aren’t great numbers. But the per-game yardage and touchdown averages are up from Young’s career rates, while the sacks-per-game average is lower. Young’s PFN QB+ Metric Grade in Week 9 (C) is the second-highest single-game grade for his career.
So, there’s been some progress, albeit incremental. Most importantly, the Panthers won their last two games.
With all that said, we’re talking about the Chiefs and Panthers. This game could be close for a while, as the Chiefs are vulnerable, but in the end, Kansas City will win by multiple scores.
PFN Prediction: Chiefs 34, Panthers 17