Who do the Panthers need to win? Explaining NFC South Division tiebreaker with Buccaneers

Billy Heyen

Who do the Panthers need to win? Explaining NFC South Division tiebreaker with Buccaneers image

The Carolina Panthers lost on Saturday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but they can still make the playoffs.

The NFC South Division title is being decided on a tiebreaker on Sunday that will involve the New Orleans Saints matchup with the Atlanta Falcons.

It's a weird situation, but it's how it has gone this season in an NFC South that will feature a division champ with an 8-9 record.

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Who do the Panthers need to win?

The Panthers need the Falcons to win to get Carolina into the playoffs.

That would make the Falcons, Panthers and Buccaneers all 8-9. The Panthers win that three-way tiebreaker, which is a mini-series record comparison.

If the Saints win, the Buccaneers win.

That would create a two-team tiebreaker between Carolina and Tampa Bay, and the Bucs hold that tiebreaker thanks to record vs. Common opponents.

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Staff Writer