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Carolina Panthers fans don’t often guidelines for their section rivals, but Sunday was an exception.
The last spot successful nan NFC playoffs came down to a matchup betwixt 2 section rivals who had agelong been eliminated from postseason contention because nan Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept their playoff hopes alive connected Saturday pinch a 16-14 triumph complete nan Panthers. Carolina would person clinched nan section pinch a win, but pursuing their loss, neither squad controlled its ain destiny anymore.
Instead, some of their playoff fates came down to Sunday’s matchup betwixt nan New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons – Tampa Bay needed nan Saints to triumph aliases tie, while nan Panthers were Falcons fans for nan day.
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Drake London of nan Atlanta Falcons reacts aft scoring a touchdown during nan first 4th of nan crippled against nan New Orleans Saints astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected Jan. 4, 2026 successful Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
It will apt beryllium a while until Panthers fans guidelines for nan Falcons again, but they judge beryllium Atlanta a ton aft nan Falcons hit nan Saints to springiness Carolina nan NFC South title and simultaneously sound retired nan Bucs.
The Falcons sewage connected nan committee first, conscionable 2 plays aft blocking a Saints punt and recovering it astatine New Orleans’ 5-yard line. An violative holding punishment pushed them backmost 10 yards, but Kirk Cousins recovered Drake London for a 15-yard score. After nan Saints missed a section extremity connected their adjacent drive, Atlanta recovered nan uprights to spell up 10-0.
The Saints answered pinch a 10-play thrust that ended pinch Tyler Shough rushing for a score, cutting nan lead to 3 points earlier nan extremity of nan first half. Atlanta kicked a section extremity connected its first thrust of nan 2nd half to spell up six, and nan Saints were forced to settee for 3 aft a touchdown was taken backmost because of a penalty. The Falcons kicked different to spell up six pinch 10:43 to go.
Atlanta Falcons backmost Kirk Cousins (18) passes against nan New Orleans Saints during nan first half astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)
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With conscionable complete 3 minutes to go, nan Saints sewage to nan reddish zone, but Shough threw a costly interception that was returned to nan New Orleans 27-yard line. Atlanta kicked yet different section goal, but this 1 made it a two-possession game.
The Saints scored a touchdown pinch 1:11 to spell and lined up for nan onside kick, but Atlanta recovered, giving Carolina nan division.
It is nan Panthers’ first playoff quality since 2017. It is nan 4th clip an NFL squad has won nan section pinch a grounds beneath .500, a feat besides accomplished by nan Panthers successful 2014, erstwhile they went 7-8-1.
As for nan Bucs, it's nan first clip since nan 2019 season—right earlier Tom Brady came to town—in which they will not play playoff football. Brady's first year, erstwhile they won a Super Bowl, snapped a 12-year playoff drought and started a streak of 5 consecutive playoff seasons, which is now over.
Bryce Young of nan Carolina Panthers is seen earlier playing nan Seattle Seahawks astatine Bank of America Stadium connected Dec. 28, 2025 successful Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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The Panthers are now locked into nan No. 4 seed and will big a playoff crippled this play against either nan San Francisco 49ers aliases Los Angeles Rams.
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