NFL Carolina Panthers

NFL Playoff Picture Week 16: Carolina Panthers’ Scenarios

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By @edpvideo

Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

When you’re competing for first place in the worst division in football, life can be interesting and unpredictable. As of Sunday, the Carolina Panthers were in first place by half a game over the New Orleans Saints and hoping for help from the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Since the Bears didn’t help them out, the Saints now hold a half game lead in the division.

With two games remaining, anything can happen in the NFC South. The toughest part for the Panthers is that they do not control their own destiny.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that if either the Saints or Atlanta Falcons win out, they win the division, and it doesn’t matter what happens in the remaining games for the Panthers. Since the Saints and Falcons play each other, it’s impossible for both teams to win out. If the Panthers lose both of their remaining games, they also cannot win the division.

If the Panthers split their remaining games to finish 6-9-1, the Saints must lose both of their games, and the Falcons must lose one of their games for the Panthers to win the division. Since the Panthers play the Falcons, the best way to play out this scenario is to win that matchup to give the Falcons their one loss.

If the Panthers win out, they eliminate the Falcons from contention, but only win the division if the Saints lose once in their final two games. In this scenario, it does not matter which game the Saints lose, as long as they lose once.

So what’s the most likely scenario to play out for the Panthers? With Cam Newton out, or at least in limbo due to his injury, it’s going to be tough to win out. I honestly believe the Saints can pull it together and win out against two very bad pass defenses in the Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But in this division, the most unlikely scenario is usually the one that becomes reality.

Paul Kakert is an NFL and Chicago Bears writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @edpvideo, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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