Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates after a touchdown during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Nov. 30, 2025.

Few gave the Carolina Panthers a chance to beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. After all, the Rams entered their Sunday battle on a six-game winning streak and had established themselves as the favorite to win Super Bowl 60.

Meanwhile, the Panthers were coming off a 20-9 loss on "Monday Night Football" against the San Francisco 49ers during which their offense looked anemic. Many expected a repeat performance against a Rams defense that had embarrassed Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 34-7 "Sunday Night Football" win in Week 12.

Instead, Bryce Young and the Panthers put together an excellent performance. He completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns while making numerous key fourth-down completions, including a game-winning 43-yard touchdown to Tetairoa McMillan.

Carolina's 31-28 victory allowed the Panthers to move above .500 once again and will keep the team in the NFC playoff race. The Panthers remain a long shot to qualify for the postseason, but they should at least stay in the NFC South race down the stretch of the season.

Here's what to know about the Panthers' playoff chances after their win over the Rams.

Panthers playoff odds

The Panthers have an estimated 17% chance to make the playoffs after their win over the Rams, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That gives Carolina the ninth-best odds to make the NFC playoffs despite ranking 10th in the conference standings.

The Panthers may have trouble working their way up in an increasingly crowded NFC wild-card race, but they are within striking distance of the top of the NFC South, which they haven't won since 2015.

Panthers remaining schedule

The Panthers will face the 13th-hardest schedule to close the season, per Tankathon. They are one of the few NFL teams that haven't yet had their bye, but they will come out of it by playing three divisional games over the final four weeks of the season.

Below is a look at Carolina's remaining opponents:

  • Week 14: BYE
  • Week 15: at New Orleans Saints
  • Week 16: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks
  • Week 18: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC South standings

The Panthers remain the No. 2 team in the NFC South standings coming out of Week 13. Below is a look at the pecking order in the division:

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
  2. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
  4. New Orleans Saints (2-10)

The Panthers are just a half-game back of the Buccaneers in the standings heading into their Week 14 bye. Carolina will have plenty of chances to catch up to Tampa Bay, as the two divisional rivals haven't yet played against one another during the 2025 NFL season.

The Panthers and Buccaneers are set to square off in Weeks 16 and 18. Their first meeting should be pivotal in deciding which of them will win the division and earn a first-round bye into the NFL playoffs.

NFL playoff picture: NFC bracket

  1. Chicago Bears (9-3; NFC North leaders)
  2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3; NFC West leaders)
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4; NFC East leaders)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5; NFC South leaders)
  5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3; wild card No. 1)
  6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1; wild card No. 2)
  7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4; wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (7-6); Minnesota Vikings (4-7); Atlanta Falcons (4-8); Washington Commanders (3-8).

Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), New York Giants (2-10)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panthers playoff picture: Odds, remaining schedule, NFC South standings

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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