The Panthers have two potential paths to an NFC South title and the No. 4 seed. The first is a simple road win over the Buccaneers. The second involves losing that game but having Atlanta beat New Orleans, which would set up a three-team tie that the Panthers would take.

Here is an updated look at the standings, bracket and matchups for the 2026 NFL playoffs for both the AFC and NFC.

For the second straight year, a divisional battle in the regular-season finale will determine the NFC's No. 1 seed. The 49ers host the Seahawks on Saturday night, and the winner gets the NFC West crown, a first-round bye and potential home-field advantage until the Super Bowl.

The NFL playoffs begin on Jan. 10 with three full rounds before Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. Here is the full schedule and the projected bracket.