Panthers playoff picture: What Week 17 vs. Seahawks means for NFC standings

The Carolina Panthers came within seventeen points of clinching the NFC South today—in a closer-than-it-looked loss to the Seattle Seahawks—after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell 20-10 to the Miami Dolphins. Now they turn to rooting for the Atlanta Falcons tomorrow night against the Los Angeles Rams while trying to focus on beating the Bucs in the regular season finale next Sunday.

Here are the remaining scenarios that see the Panthers into the playoffs as the NFC South champions.

Panthers finish 10-7

They’re in.

Panthers finish 9-8

If they sweep the Bucs then they’re in.
If they split with the Bucs AND the Bucs beat the Dolphins then they’re out.
If they split with the Bucs AND they beat the Seahawks AND the Bucs lose to the Dolphins then they’re in.

Panthers finish 8-8-1 or 9-7-1

Any scenario where the Panthers finish with a 1-0-1 record against the Bucs sees Carolina win the NFC South and enter the playoffs.
If they split with the Bucs AND tie the Seahawks AND the Bucs lose to Miami then they are in.
If they split with the Bucs AND tie the Seahawks AND the Bucs beat Miami then they are out.

Panthers finish 8-9

If the Bucs sweep then the Panthers are out.
If they split AND the Bucs beat Miami AND the Atlanta Falcons lose one more game then the Panthers are out
If they split AND the Bucs lose to the Dolphins AND the Falcons win out then the Panthers are in