After an incredible victory in Week 11, the Carolina Panthers’ playoff hopes continue to grow as we inch closer to the end of the regular season.
These hopes seemingly went down the drain in the prior week when the Panthers suffered a brutal loss to the New Orleans Saints, 17-7. However, this narrative flipped on Sunday, as Carolina managed to defeat the Atlanta Falcons for the second time this year in overtime, 30-27.
The victory included a lights-out performance from quarterback Bryce Young, who completed 68.8 percent of his attempts for 448 yards and three touchdowns.
His efforts in the contest helped the Panthers rally back from a 14-point deficit, as he opened the first drive of the second half with a 36-yard strike to wideout Xavier Legette.
With another win under the franchise’s belt, Carolina now possesses a 6-5 record this season heading into their Monday night primetime matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12.
This contest holds significant value in the playoff picture, as the 49ers are the No. 7 seed in the NFC with a 7-4 record. As of Sunday, the Panthers hold the No. 9 seed, trailing the Detroit Lions.
If head coach Dave Canales and his squad can pull off the victory on Monday night, Carolina would gain a huge advantage for the rest of the season. A win would put the Panthers ahead of the 49ers in the standings, as the organization would have the tiebreaker over San Francisco.
For the 49ers, head coach Kyle Shanahan and his team were able to come back from a rough loss to the Los Angeles Rams and defeat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11, 41-22. In his first start since Week Four, quarterback Brock Purdy had an impressive performance, throwing for three touchdowns.
Depending on the outcome of the Lions’ Week 12 matchup against the New York Giants, the Panthers find themselves in a position to claim the last spot in the 2025 playoff picture.
In order for this to occur, the Panthers must win against the 49ers, and the Lions must lose to the Giants.
Unfortunately for the organization, a loss on Monday would kill any playoff momentum for Carolina. Following the Week 12 game, the Panthers will have to face the Saints, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice to close out the season.