The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a thrilling Thursday Night battle against the Atlanta Falcons, and the upset outcome dramatically improved the Panthers odds of making the playoffs. After a 0-2 start to the season, Carolina has come on strong over the past few months and currently sits atop the NFC South with a 7-6 record. Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is 7-7 after dropping six of its past eight games.

Seeing as the NFC West and NFC North are loaded with talented teams, the only realistic way for either team to make the playoffs is by winning the division. According to NFL.com, the Panthers currently have a 47% chance of making the playoffs, while the Buccaneers have a 53% chance. This is essentially a coin flip, but Carolina can increase their odds of making the playoffs in the following ways.

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