Who could Panthers play in NFL playoffs? Scenarios, potential wild card matchups

The Carolina Panthers earned a key victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. If they can do it again in Week 18, they will head to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2017.

It would also allow the Panthers to win the NFC South for the first time since 2015, when they went 15-1 under the guidance of Ron Rivera. Carolina made it to Super Bowl 50 that season, which it lost 24-10 to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.

Getting to the playoffs would be a nice, feather-in-the-cap moment for second-year coach Dave Canales. He has engineered a rapid turnaround in Carolina, helping quarterback Bryce Young make strides across their two seasons together while rebuilding the team's defense into a solid force.

Who will the Panthers face in the playoffs if they can stave off competition from the Buccaneers in the NFC South and win the division? Below is a breakdown of the team's playoff scenarios and potential wild-card opponents.

Who will Panthers play in playoffs?

The Panthers can only make it into the playoffs as the NFC's No. 4 seed. That guarantees the team will play the top wild-card team – which will be the second-place finisher in the NFC West – should they make it into the postseason.

Here's a look at the Panthers' potential wild-card opponents in 2025:

• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Los Angeles Rams

Panthers playoff scenarios

The Panthers will win the NFC South and be the conference's No. 4 seed if any of the following scenarios occur in Week 18:

• Panthers win or tie vs. Buccaneers
• Panthers lose vs. Buccaneers AND Falcons win vs. Saints

If that happens, the Panthers will face the 49ers, Seahawks or Rams in the wild-card round. Below is a look at how each matchup could occur:

San Francisco 49ers

• 49ers lose vs. Seahawks AND Rams lose or tie vs. Cardinals OR
• 49ers tie vs. Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks

• Seahawks lose vs. 49ers

Los Angeles Rams

• 49ers lose vs. Seahawks AND Rams win vs. Cardinals

NFL playoff schedule

The NFL playoffs will kick off on Jan. 10 with the league's first two wild-card matchups before concluding on Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

Wild card weekend

All times Eastern

Saturday, Jan. 10

• AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
• AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 11

• AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.
• AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
• AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 12

• AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 17

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.
• AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 18

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.
• AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.

NFL conference championship round

Sunday, Jan. 25

• AFC championship game: 3 p.m.
• NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.

Super Bowl 60

• Date: Feb. 8, 2026
• Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• TV: NBC

NFL playoff picture Week 18

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*
2. New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South leaders)*
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
5. Houston Texans (11-5, wild card No. 1)*
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West leaders)*
2. Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North winners)*
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South leaders)
5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, wild card No. 1)*
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who could Panthers play in playoffs? Breaking down scenarios