The Carolina Panthers are going to the playoffs

Thanks to the general chaos known as the NFC South, a late, game sealing interception by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford, and an even more game-sealing (listen, it’s been awhile since I’ve written about the playoffs, or even successful football, bear with me) field goal by former Panther and current Falcon Zane Gonzalez, the Carolina Panthers are going to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. They are going to the playoffs as the NFC South champions for the first time since 2015 and they are going to the playoffs for the third time as division champs in the same season that they opened against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ohio State won the preceding National Championship in college football,and that Jennifer Lopez got divorced. More on that later.

The Panthers will host a wild-card game next weekend against either the Los Angeles Rams or the San Francisco 49ers, pending the result of the Arizona Cardinals at Rams game this afternoon. If the Rams win they then play the Panthers next week. If the Rams lose then the Panthers will play the 49ers.

There are a lot of mixed emotions around this playoff berth for Panthers fans. Many feel that the team did not earn their position by winning their way in or even by having a winning record. Those complaints are fair, but I have one solid counter argument: we’re here to watch the game. The Panthers being in the playoffs mean they get to play and we get to watch at least one more game this season.

As for the superstitious confluence of games and broken marriages mentioned above, well, they only real conclusion is that the Panthers are going to be the unlikeliest NFC Champion of all time. Keep Pounding, y’all.