The Carolina Panthers are entering Week 15 in a position few expected them to be in back in September - leading the NFC South and holding their playoff destiny in their own hands. At 7-6, Carolina is riding a wave of momentum that could carry them all the way to their first division title in a decade. And if things break right, they could clinch it as early as Week 16.
Yes, you read that right. The Panthers are just two wins away from locking up the NFC South - a division that, for most of the year, looked like it would once again belong to Tampa Bay. But a couple of key results have turned the standings upside down, and now it's Carolina sitting in the driver’s seat.
It all started with a stunning Week 14 upset over the Rams - a game that served as both a statement and a springboard. That win, paired with the Buccaneers falling on Thursday Night Football, vaulted the Panthers into first place. Suddenly, the team that had been quietly hanging around the playoff picture is now in control.
The path forward is clear: beat the Saints on Sunday, then take care of business against the Bucs in Week 16. Do that, and the Panthers will clinch the division for the first time since their 2015 Super Bowl run - a season that still looms large in franchise lore.
And just in time for the stretch run, Carolina is getting a major boost on defense.
Star cornerback Jaycee Horn is officially back. After missing time since suffering a concussion in Week 12 against San Francisco, Horn has cleared protocol and carries no injury designation heading into Sunday’s matchup in New Orleans. His return couldn’t come at a better time.
Horn has been a game-changer in the secondary all season long. With 15 solo tackles, six passes defensed, and five interceptions, he’s been the kind of playmaker who can tilt the field - and the scoreboard. His presence should immediately elevate a Panthers defense that will need to be sharp against a Saints offense still capable of putting up points.
This is a pivotal moment for Carolina - a team that’s battled through inconsistency, injuries, and low expectations to find itself on the cusp of something significant. Bryce Young is growing into the role, the defense is getting healthy, and the schedule is laying out the opportunity.
Panthers at Saints kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Two wins. That’s all it takes.
The NFC South is there for the taking - and Carolina knows it.