The Falcons may be out of the playoff picture, but they’re still shaping the NFC South race-and the Panthers are loving it.
On Thursday Night Football, Atlanta pulled off a dramatic 29-28 win over the Buccaneers, capped by a clutch 43-yard field goal from Zane Gonzalez as time expired. It was a fourth-quarter surge-15 unanswered points-that not only gave the Falcons a morale-boosting victory but also sent ripple effects through the division standings.
Can't wait for Sunday pic.twitter.com/2wnnlhviGE
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 12, 2025
Tampa Bay, once holding firm at the top of the NFC South, has now lost five of its last six games, dropping to 7-7 on the season. That stumble opened the door for Carolina, who now sits atop the division at 7-6.
It’s the first time all year the Panthers have held the No. 1 spot in the South, and they didn’t waste any time celebrating the Falcons’ assist. Just minutes after the final whistle, Carolina’s social media team chimed in with a succinct, confident post: “Can’t wait for Sunday.”
And Sunday’s going to be huge.
The Panthers face the Saints in a matchup that now carries significant playoff implications. A win would solidify Carolina’s hold on the division lead, but the road to the postseason is far from smooth.
The NFC South is shaping up to be a late-season dogfight, and the schedule isn’t doing anyone any favors. The Panthers and Buccaneers still have two head-to-head matchups left-in Weeks 16 and 18-which could very well decide who punches their ticket to January football.
For Atlanta, Thursday’s win was about pride and playing spoiler. For Carolina, it was a gift-and a reminder that in the NFL, even teams with nothing to play for can have everything to say about who gets in and who goes home.