The Carolina Panthers’ next opponent is not fully locked in yet because their playoff matchup depends on how other NFC games finish.

Quick Scoop

  • The Panthers have clinched the NFC South and are the No. 4 seed, so they will host a Wild Card game next weekend.
  • Their likely opponent will come from the NFC West race between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
  • Scenario right now:
    • If the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals, the Rams will travel to Charlotte to play the Panthers.
* If the Rams lose, then the 49ers would head to Charlotte instead.

Why it’s still “TBD”

Until the late Sunday games in the NFC wrap up, the league cannot finalize the Wild Card bracket, so the exact answer to “who will the Panthers play next” is still conditional between those two teams.

This type of end-of-season seeding shuffle is common, especially when multiple teams are close in record and tiebreakers.

Looking a step ahead

  • Regardless of whether it is the Rams or 49ers, the Panthers will be opening the postseason at home because of their division title.
  • After the Wild Card round, any future opponent will depend entirely on the reseeded NFC playoff bracket and other game results that weekend.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.