It's not yet safe to assume that the Panthers are going to make the playoffs. In fact, it might be safer to expect the opposite. 

Perhaps this sentiment is merely seven years of compounded PTSD watching the Panthers finish with losing records and missing the postseason. However, betting oddsmakers seem to agree with it, too.

Essentially every sports book has Tampa listed as a strong favorite to win the NFC South — including Bet 365 at -155 odds — even though Carolina owns a one-game lead with two weeks remaining in the season and it just beat the Buccaneers in Charlotte last weekend.

Here are the reasons to be concerned about the Panthers' chances.

While they can technically clinch the division this weekend, it's hard to imagine that they will. Carolina would have to beat the NFC leading Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, plus Tampa must lose at the Qunn Ewers-led Dolphins.

If both of these results don't come to pass, the Panthers would have to complete the sweep of the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium to close the regular season. 

That's because — should the two teams finish with the same record — Tampa would own the head-to-head tiebreaker against Carolina. The differentiator would be the Bucs' superior record against common opponents. 

Sweeping Tampa would be a tall order, too.

Prior to last week's head-to-head win in Charlotte, the Panthers had dropped five straight games against the Bucs. It's also worth noting that while Carolina has endured seven consecutive losing seasons, Tampa has participated in the last five postseasons with four straight division crowns.

But with all of that said, if the Panthers can't finish the job, you shouldn't allow the finish to the season cloud the fact that the franchise won more games in 2025 than the past eight years. Which certainly beats playing meaningless games — and looking at draft projections — this time of year.

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