What Are the Panthers Playoff Chances?
The Panthers' playoff chances are 32.3% ahead of the season, according to odds from DraftKings Sportsbook North Carolina. These odds vary by sportsbook and will shift throughout the season.
| ๐ Win Super Bowl Chances | 1.2% (+8000) |
| ๐ Win NFC Chances | 2.8% (+3500) |
| โญ Make Playoffs | 32.3% (+210) |
| ๐ฅ Win NFC South | 24.4% (+310) |
| โ Last Verified | May 24, 2026 |
In addition to tracking their playoff odds, weโre also keeping an eye on the Panthers Super Bowl odds this season.
Do the Carolina Panthers Have a Chance to Make the Playoffs?
Yes, the Panthers have a chance to make the playoffs as the season has not yet started. Last season, the Panthers made the playoffs after winning the division with an 8-9 record.
Where Can I Bet on the Carolina Panthers to Make the Playoffs?
You can bet on the NFL playoffs with most major sportsbooks, including FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesars, and BetMGM, among others.
North Carolina sports betting apps can be used to bet on the Panthers' playoff chances for the season.
Since mobile sports betting is live in the state, be sure to keep an eye out for North Carolina betting promos, which can give you extra bankroll for NFL futures bets and more.
North Carolina has also legalized sports betting in limited locations at tribal casinos as of March 2021:
- ๐ Harrahโs Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC
- ๐ Harrahโs Cherokee Valley River Casino in Murphy, NC
- ๐ Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, NC
๐ฅ MORE: Sports Betting North Carolina
Are the Panthers in the Playoffs?
No, the Panthers are not in the playoffs as the season has not yet kicked out. But for the first time since 2017, Carolina clinched a postseason spot in the 2025-26 season, but lost to the Rams in the Wild Card Round.
The Panthers made significant improvements through free agency and the draft last season and those upgrades gave Carolina the edge they needed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Ahead of the new season, the Panthers have a good chance of making it back in the 2026-27 season.
Carolina Panthers Playoff Chances: Key Updates May 2026
A team's playoff odds fluctuate throughout the year with free agency, draft additions, and injury news. During the season, this section will update you on the most important Panthers updates.
- ๐ April 23: The Panthers drafted OT Monroe Freeling in the first round of the draft.
- ๐ March 24: Carolina trades QB Andy Dalton to Philadelphia for a 2027 seventh-rounder.
- ๐ January 10: The Panthers fall to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round, 34-31.
- ๐ January 4: Carolina wins the division with an 8-9 record.
- ๐ December 31: The Panthers claim DB DโAnthony Bell off waivers from Seattle and place TE JaโTavion Sanders on injured reserve.
- ๐ December 24: Carolina designates G Robert Hunt to return from injured reserve.
- ๐ December 17: The Panthers designate WR David Moore to return from injured reserve.
- ๐ November 26: Carolina places CB Corey Thornton on injured reserve.
- ๐ November 16: Young sets a franchise single-game passing record by throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11.
- ๐ November 1: The Panthers activate G Chandler Zavala from injured reserve and release RB DeeJay Dallas.
Be sure to check back often as we continue to update this list with relevant news affecting the Panthers.
- ๐ October 18: Carolina activates WR Jalen Coker and C Austin Corbett from injured reserve. LB Patrick Jones II placed on injured reserve
- ๐ October 4: The Panthers activate DE LaBryan Ray from the injured reserve list.
- ๐ October 3: Carolina designates WR Jalen Coker to return from injured reserve list.
- ๐ September 15: The Panthers place G Robert Hunt and C Austin Corbett on injured reserve.
- ๐ September 1: Carolina signs WR Hunter Renfrow.
- ๐ August 28: The Panthers trade WR Adam Thielen, a conditional 2026 seventh-rounder, and a 2027 fifth-rounder to the Vikings in exchange for Minnesota's 2026 fifth-rounder and a 2027 fourth-rounder.
- ๐ August 21: Carolina activates TE Tommy Tremble from the active/physically unable to perform list.
- ๐ July 28: The Panthers activate DT Bobby Brown III and P Sam Martin from the active/non-football injury list.
- ๐ July 22: Carolina releases LB Josey Jewell and signs TE Tyler Mabry.
- ๐ May 08: The Panthers place RB Jonathon Brooks on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
- ๐ April 24: Carolina drafts WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) in the first round of the 2025 draft.
- ๐ March 24: The Panthers re-sign WR David Moore and DB Nick Scott.
- ๐ March 12: The Panthers sign DT Tershawn Wharton, S Tre'von Moehrig, and RB Rico Dowdle.
- ๐ February 18: QB Andy Dalton signs a two-year deal with Carolina.
Carolina Panthers Regular Season Schedule & Betting Lines
Carolina kicks off the 2026 campaign at the Hall of Fame Game on August 6 in Canton, Ohio, before playing three additional preseason matchups. The Panthers then open the regular season at home against the Chicago Bears.
| Panthers Schedule | Line | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 vs Chicago Bears | CAR +2.5, ML +114 | TBD |
| Week 2 at Atlanta Falcons | CAR +1.5, ML +100 | TBD |
| Week 3 at Cleveland Browns | CAR -1.5, ML -120 | TBD |
| Week 4 vs Detroit Lions SNF | CAR +3, ML +130 | TBD |
| Week 5 BYE | - | - |
| Week 6 at Philadelphia Eagles | CAR +6.5, ML +230 | TBD |
| Week 7 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | CAR +1.5, ML -102 | TBD |
| Week 8 at Green Bay Packers TNF | TBD | TBD |
| Week 9 vs Denver Broncos | TBD | TBD |
| Week 10 at New Orleans Saints | TBD | TBD |
| Week 11 vs Baltimore Ravens | TBD | TBD |
| Week 12 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers MNF | TBD | TBD |
| Week 13 at Minnesota Vikings | TBD | TBD |
| Week 14 vs New Orleans Saints | TBD | TBD |
| Week 15 vs Cincinnati Bengals | TBD | TBD |
| Week 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers | TBD | TBD |
| Week 17 vs Seattle Seahawks | TBD | TBD |
| Week 18 vs Atlanta Falcons | TBD | TBD |
Key Contributors Toward Panthers Playoff Chances
With a win total set at 7.5 and the pieces finally coming together, the Panthers look like a team capable of making noise in the NFC South this season. The 10th-hardest strength of schedule is a hurdle, but Carolina has distinct advantages, including the fewest travel miles in the NFL.
Bryce Young leads the offense alongside receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, with Jonathan Brooks expected to be a difference-maker at running back. Defensively, Derrick Brown and CB Jaycee Horn anchor what could be one of the more complete units in the division. If the roster delivers on its potential, this Panthers team has the makings of a legitimate postseason threat.
๐ฅ MORE: Bryce Young Odds
Are the Panthers Out of the Playoff Picture?
No, the Panthers are not out of the playoff picture, the 2026 season hasn't started yet. Carolina heads into the new year with plenty of optimism after making the playoffs last season, though a difficult schedule could prove to be a challenge as they look to make it back-to-back postseason appearances.
Panthers Playoff Picture vs. NFC South
The Panthers finished last season winning the NFC South.
- Carolina Panthers 8-9
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-9
- Atlanta Falcons 8-9
- New Orleans Saints 6-11
Weโll continue to update this section next season with the Panthersโ position in the division.
Panthers Playoff Picture vs NFC Standings
With the 2026 season yet to kick off, it's too early to paint a clear picture of where Carolina stands in the broader NFC landscape. What we do know is that the Panthers fell to the Los Angeles Rams in last season's Wild Card round, and the Rams enter the new season as the favorites to represent the NFC, making a potential rematch down the road all the more meaningful for Panthers fans.
For now, the NFC standings are a blank slate. Once the season gets underway, we'll be tracking exactly how Carolina stacks up against the rest of the conference and updating the playoff picture as it develops.
Panthers Playoff Picture Outlook & Predictions for 2026-27
The Carolina Panthers have turned a corner. After years of rebuilding, the investment on both sides of the ball finally paid off last season, culminating in an NFC South title and the franchise's first playoff appearance since 2017. The bar has been raised, and this year the goal isn't just to get back to the postseason, but to go further.
The key ingredients are there. Bryce Young's continued growth under coach Dave Canales will be central to how far this offense can go, while a fully healthy Jonathan Brooks taking over as RB1 gives Carolina a dynamic weapon in the backfield. On the other side of the ball, a revamped defense has the potential to be one of the better units in the conference.
That said, Carolina enters the season as an underdog with a demanding schedule ahead. The margin for error is thin, and the toughest tests will reveal just how far this team has truly come. But after proving last season that they belong, the Panthers head into 2026 with genuine belief, and plenty to play for.
๐ฅ MORE: Panthers Injury Report
Who to Root for if You're a Carolina Panthers Fan
Aside from cheering on the Panthers, Carolina fans will typically pull for any team going up against their NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Divisional matchups carry extra weight in the NFL, and anything that hurts a division rival helps Carolina's chances of defending their NFC South title.
Carolina Panthers Playoff Chances FAQs
Ahead of the 2026-27 season, the Carolina Panthers' playoff chances sit at 32.3% according to early odds at DraftKings NC Sportsbook. These are preseason and will shift considerably once the season kicks off and throughout the season.
No, the Carolina Panthers have not yet clinched a playoff spot, the 2026 season has not kicked off yet. However, the Panthers did make the playoffs last season as NFC South champions and will be looking to repeat that success.
Yes, the Carolina Panthers have a chance to make the playoffs and are legitimate contenders heading into the 2026 season. As defending NFC South champions coming off their first playoff appearance since 2017-18, Carolina has the pieces in place to make another run.
You can bet on the Carolina Panthers to make the playoffs with most major sportsbooks, including those in North Carolina. Popular sportsbooks where you can bet on the Panthers to make the playoffs include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, ESPN BET, and Caesars.
Yes, the Panthers made the playoffs in the 2025-26 NFL season for the first time since the 2017-18 season, winning the NFC South in the process. With the 2026 season yet to kick off, Carolina has every reason to believe they can return to the postseason once again.
The Panthers can reach the playoffs by either winning the NFC South, having the best record among the divisionโs four teams, or by earning one of the three Wild Card spots reserved for the best records among the remaining 12 NFC teams. Last season, the Panthers ended up winning the division to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
Author

Calli is an avid sports fan who earned her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. She has combined her passion for journalism and sports, covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football, and sports betting for several media outlets.

