What Are the Panthers Playoff Chances?
The Panthers' playoff chances are 80.0% according to DraftKings Sportsbook North Carolina. These odds vary by sportsbook and will shift as the season progresses.
| 🏈 Make Playoffs Chances | 80.0% (-400) |
| 🏆 Win Super Bowl Chances | 0.8% (+12000) |
| 🥇 Win NFC Chances | 2.2% (+4500) |
| ⭐ Win NFC South Chances | 80.0% (-400) |
| 📊 Regular Season Wins | O/U 8.5 (+220/-270) |
| ✅ Last Verified | January 1, 2026 |
In addition to tracking their playoff odds, we’re 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 at making the playoffs sitting with an 8-8 record. At -400 odds at sportsbooks, Carolina holds an 80.0% chance to reach the playoffs in 2025. Carolina's Week 18 game will decide their playoff fate:
Win: Clinch the NFC South title and secure a playoff spot.
Lose: Eliminated from the playoffs (if Falcons lose). If Falcons win, Panthers would win division.
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 2025 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:
- 📍 Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC
- 📍 Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino in Murphy, NC
- 📍 Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, NC
🔥 MORE: Sports Betting North Carolina
Are the Panthers in the Playoffs?
Carolina missed the playoffs last season, but after an active offseason, the Panthers have been eager to chase a postseason spot in 2025. Carolina reaches the NFL playoffs by taking the NFC South. They can clinch the division with a Week 18 win over Tampa Bay. They could still get in with a loss if Atlanta also loses, creating a three team tie that falls in Carolina’s favor because of their head to head record.
After failing to make the postseason in 2024, the Panthers are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017. They’ve made significant improvements through free agency and the draft, hoping those upgrades give them the edge they need to become playoff contenders.
Carolina Panthers Playoff Chances: Key Updates January 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.
- 📅 December 31: The Panthers claim DB D’Anthony Bell off waivers from Seattle and place TE Ja’Tavion Sanders on injured reserve.
- 📅 December 24: Carolina designates G Robert Hunt to return from injured reserve.
- 📅 December 17: The Panthers designate WR David Moore to return from injured reserve.
- 📅 November 26: Carolina places CB Corey Thornton on injured reserve.
- 📅 November 16: Young sets a franchise single-game passing record by throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11.
- 📅 November 1: The Panthers activate G Chandler Zavala from injured reserve and release RB DeeJay Dallas.
- 📅 October 18: Carolina activates WR Jalen Coker and C Austin Corbett from injured reserve. LB Patrick Jones II placed on injured reserve
- 📅 October 4: The Panthers activate DE LaBryan Ray from the injured reserve list.
- 📅 October 3: Carolina designates WR Jalen Coker to return from injured reserve list.
- 📅 September 15: The Panthers place G Robert Hunt and C Austin Corbett on injured reserve.
- 📅 September 1: Carolina signs WR Hunter Renfrow.
- 📅 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.
- 📅 August 21: Carolina activates TE Tommy Tremble from the active/physically unable to perform list.
Be sure to check back often as we continue to update this list with relevant news affecting the Panthers.
- 📅 July 28: The Panthers activate DT Bobby Brown III and P Sam Martin from the active/non-football injury list.
- 📅 July 22: Carolina releases LB Josey Jewell and signs TE Tyler Mabry.
- 📅 May 08: The Panthers place RB Jonathon Brooks on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
- 📅 April 24: Carolina drafts WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) in the first round of the 2025 draft.
- 📅 March 24: The Panthers re-sign WR David Moore and DB Nick Scott.
- 📅 March 12: The Panthers sign DT Tershawn Wharton, S Tre'von Moehrig, and RB Rico Dowdle.
- 📅 February 18: QB Andy Dalton signs a two-year deal with Carolina.
Carolina Panthers Schedule & Betting Lines
The Panthers started their 2025 season with two straight road games: Week 1 in Jacksonville against the Jaguars, and Week 2 in Arizona against the Cardinals, losing both. They earned a win at home against the Rams in Week 13 and took a late-season bye in Week 14.
| Panthers Schedule | Line | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 at Jacksonville Jaguars | CAR +3.5, ML +164 | L 26-10 |
| Week 2 at Arizona Cardinals | CAR +6.5, ML +245 | L 27-22 |
| Week 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons | CAR +5.5, ML +180 | W 30-0 |
| Week 4 at New England Patriots | CAR +5.5, ML +205 | L 42-13 |
| Week 5 vs. Miami Dolphins | CAR +1.5, ML +100 | W 27-24 |
| Week 6 vs. Dallas Cowboys | CAR +3.5, ML +154 | W 30-27 |
| Week 7 at New York Jets | CAR -1.5, ML -135 | W 13-6 |
| Week 8 vs. Buffalo Bills | CAR +7, ML +285 | L 40-9 |
| Week 9 at Green Bay Packers | CAR +12.5, ML +625 | W 16-13 |
| Week 10 vs. New Orleans Saints | CAR -5.5, ML -245 | L 17-7 |
| Week 11 at Atlanta Falcons | CAR +3.5, ML +160 | W 30-27 |
| Week 12 at San Francisco 49ers | CAR +7, ML +275 | L 20-9 |
| Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams | CAR +10.5, ML +500 | W 31-28 |
| Week 14 BYE | - | - |
| Week 15 at New Orleans Saints | CAR -2.5, ML -220 | L 17-20 |
| Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | CAR +2.5, ML +120 | W 23-20 |
| Week 17 vs. Seattle Seahawks | CAR +1.5, ML +100 | L 27-10 |
| Week 18 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | CAR +2.5, ML +120 | TBD |
Key Contributors Toward Panthers Playoff Chances
It all comes down to Week 18 to decide the fate of the Panthers’ season. Carolina reaches the playoffs by taking the NFC South, which they can clinch with a Week 18 win over Tampa Bay. If they lose, an Atlanta win in Week 18 still keeps their postseason hopes alive, setting up a three-team tie that gives Carolina the advantage based on head-to-head results. Atlanta hosts New Orleans on January 4.
🔥 MORE: Bryce Young Odds
Looking Ahead: Panthers Playoff Picture
At 8-8, the Panthers are still in the mix for the division title and a playoff spot. Carolina has shown steady improvement and have made things interesting down the stretch, as they look to win the division for the first time since 2015. All they need is a win in Tampa Bay in Week 18 or an Atlanta Falcons win over the New Orleans Saints.
Are the Panthers Out of the Playoff Picture?
No, the Panthers are not out of the playoffs. Some teams have already been eliminated, but Carolina remains firmly in the postseason mix. The Panthers currently have an 80.0% chance of winning the division, which would send them to the playoffs.
Panthers Playoff Picture vs. NFC South
The Panthers tied with the Saints to finish last place in the NFC South with a 5-12 record in 2024.
Here is what the standings look like ahead of Week 18:
- Carolina Panthers 8-8
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-9
- Atlanta Falcons 7-9
- New Orleans Saints 6-10
We’ll continue to update this section with the Panthers’ position in the division.
Panthers Playoff Picture vs NFC Standings
The Panthers finished last season with one of the worst records in the NFC at 5–12. They entered 2025 projected to finish near the bottom again but have surpassed expectations. They are still a long shot to win the NFC, with just a 2.2% chance to claim the conference. The Seattle Seahawks currently hold the best odds to win the NFC.
Panthers Playoff Picture Outlook & Predictions for 2025
The Carolina Panthers are still in the early stages of their rebuild and will need time to see if their upgrades pay off on both sides of the ball. They spent the offseason making significant changes, aiming to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. With an 8–8 record, the Panthers still have a chance to make the postseason. They just need a win in Week 18.
🔥 MORE: Panthers Injury Report
Who to Root for if You're a Carolina Panthers Fan
Aside from rooting for the Panthers, Carolina fans would normally cheer for any team that takes on the Falcons, Saints, or Buccaneers, which are divisional rivals who stand in the way of Carolina’s playoff chances. In Week 18, Carolina fans should root for the Panthers or the Falcons, as wins from either team will earn them the division crown and a trip to the playoffs.
Carolina Panthers Playoff Chances FAQs
The Carolina Panthers' chances to make the playoffs in 2025 are 80.0%. This is based on -400 odds to win the division and make the playoffs at sportsbooks. Carolina has not reached the playoffs since the 2017 season and has not won the division since 2015.
At this point in the season, the Panthers have not been eliminated from the playoffs, though division rivals the Saints and Falcons have. Carolina missed the 2024 postseason after being eliminated from contention following a Week 15 loss. The Panthers will miss the playoffs with a loss in Week 18 and an Atlanta loss.
The Panthers are not in the playoffs, but if they get a victory in Tampa Bay over the Bucs in Week 18, they will win the division for the first time since 2015 and will make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Yes, the Carolina Panthers are still in the hunt for the 2025-26 playoffs. They just need a win on the road over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18 to claim the division and earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2017.
Yes, the Panthers absolutely can make the playoffs this year. They will play in a winner-take-all matchup against the Bucs on January 3 for the division. If they win, they are in the playoffs; if they lose and the Falcons lose, they are out.
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.
No, the Panthers did not make the playoffs in the 2024-25 NFL season. They haven't made the playoffs since the 2017-18 season. Carolina is hoping to put an end to a string of losing seasons and become a playoff contender.
The Panthers can reach the playoffs by either winning the NFC South (having the best record among the division’s four teams) or by earning one of the three wild-card spots reserved for the best records among the remaining 12 NFC teams.
Author
Calli is lifelong resident of Arizona and has been an avid sports fan since she can remember. After earning her Bachelor’s degrees from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, she combined her passion for journalism and sports. Calli has covered the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAAF, college sports, and sports betting for several media outlets.
