The Carolina Panthers missed a prime opportunity to create separation in the NFC South race after being upset by the 3-10 New Orleans Saints in Week 15.
With a difficult remaining strength of schedule, Carolina also faces an intriguing subplot down the stretch, squaring off against two quarterbacks the franchise previously moved on from, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold.
A couple of familiar faces stand between the Panthers and their first playoff appearance since 2017 😳 pic.twitter.com/otWVUFCYoO
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 15, 2025
With personal vendettas at play, the Panthers need to shore up the inconsistencies on their team if they look to make their first postseason since 2017.
Carolina’s Playoff Path Complicated by Ex-Quarterbacks
The Carolina Panthers may be the most confusing team in the NFL.
After upsetting the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams in Week 14, Carolina’s offensive inconsistencies resurfaced a week later. Quarterback Bryce Young threw for just 163 yards and one touchdown, underscoring the uneven play that has defined the Panthers’ season.
Now in his third year, Young has been a mixed bag. While flashes of growth are evident, questions remain about whether he can consistently lead Carolina back into playoff contention.
Bryce Young has a 95.5 passing grade on 20+ yard throws this season — 5th best in the NFL.
— Mike Kennedy (@MikeKennedyNFL) December 14, 2025
The growth he has shown since his rookie year is a sight to behold. He has been tossing dimes.Pic.twitter.com/Y37UD2eE5A
The Panthers selected Young first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft in response to years of instability at quarterback, cycling through Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker during the 2022 season. What Carolina could not have anticipated was the late-career resurgence both Mayfield and Darnold would experience after leaving the organization.
After being waived by the Panthers, Mayfield signed with the Los Angeles Rams, filling in for an injured Matthew Stafford. In five games, he threw for four touchdowns and two interceptions, doing enough to earn a free-agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2023 season.
Mayfield seized that opportunity, leading Tampa Bay to two consecutive NFC South titles and a Wild Card playoff victory in 2023.
Sam Darnold also capitalized on his next chance as a starter, signing with the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2024 offseason. He led Minnesota to a 14-3 record, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Vikings’ decision to hand the reins to second-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy instead of offering Darnold a long-term deal proved costly. Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks, demonstrating that his 2024 success was no one-year fluke.
This season, Darnold has firmly entered the MVP conversation, guiding Seattle to an 11-3 record so far while throwing for 3,433 yards and 22 touchdowns.
With both teams still in the playoff hunt and vying for NFC seeding, the Panthers will need to find a way to neutralize these high-powered offenses while improving complementary play on their own offensive side.