The Carolina Panthers, with a record of 8-8, can still secure a playoff berth as champions of the NFC South, even if they lose to the 7-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Saturday. During a press conference on Tuesday, Carolina quarterback Bryce Young was questioned about the implications of the Atlanta Falcons” recent victory over the Los Angeles Rams, which improved their record to 7-9. Young admitted he was unaware of the tiebreaker scenarios that could arise from a three-way tie in the division standings.
“I didn”t know that or know what that is,” Young stated regarding the potential outcomes from a loss and a Falcons win over the 6-10 New Orleans Saints on Sunday, according to Darin Gantt from the team”s official website. If the Panthers manage to achieve nine wins by defeating the Buccaneers at Tampa Bay”s Raymond James Stadium, they will clinch the division title outright. However, even with a loss, they could still emerge as division champions through tiebreakers.
Despite the complexities of the playoff scenarios, Young emphasized his commitment to focusing on the upcoming game against the Buccaneers. He reiterated his goal of “going 1-0 this week,” highlighting the importance of a process-oriented approach as emphasized by Panthers head coach Dave Canales.
The Panthers last competed in a playoff game in January 2018, prior to Young being selected as the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. While Young may not have followed the Falcons-Rams game closely, he expressed enthusiasm about playing for a significant opportunity this weekend. “I mean, I”m always excited,” he remarked. “I”m super grateful for the opportunity. Anytime you get to play football, it”s a blessing, obviously. Being able to play for what we”re playing for means a lot, of course. I”m proud of this group for being here; we”re excited for the opportunity. But, at the end of the day, it”s football right now. Pushing all that to the side, it”s just about having the best week we can right now.”
As of Wednesday morning, the DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Panthers as 2.5-point underdogs on the road against the Buccaneers. Speculation is rife that Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles may need to secure a win against the Panthers to maintain his position with the team.
