How is this calculated?

A team is counted as still in the hunt when at least one set of results for the games left would put it in the playoffs, as division winner or wild card, taking into account that its rivals also play each other. It is counted as clinched only when no set of results can keep it out. Teams are compared on wins, a tie counting as half a win. While games remain, the league's tie-breakers are not used for this: teams level on record are treated cautiously, level being enough to stay in and never enough to clinch. The tie-breakers (head-to-head, division and conference records, common games, strength of victory and of schedule, points) give the order of the tables, the seeds if the season ended today and, once every game is played, the final field. Scores come from the nflverse project.

The Carolina Panthers can still make the 2026 NFL playoffs.

Record: 2-2. Place in the NFC South: 1 of 4. They can still win the NFC South. If the season ended today they would be the number 4 seed in the NFC. Winning every game left would put them in the playoffs whatever happens elsewhere. They can finish with 15 wins at most.

Games left

Week	Opponent
6 · 18 Oct	at Philadelphia Eagles
7 · 25 Oct	vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8 · 29 Oct	at Green Bay Packers
9 · 8 Nov	vs Denver Broncos
10 · 15 Nov	at New Orleans Saints
11 · 22 Nov	vs Baltimore Ravens
12 · 30 Nov	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13 · 6 Dec	at Minnesota Vikings
14 · 13 Dec	vs New Orleans Saints
15 · 20 Dec	vs Cincinnati Bengals
16 · 27 Dec	at Pittsburgh Steelers
17 · 3 Jan	vs Seattle Seahawks
18 · 10 Jan	vs Atlanta Falcons

Results

Week	Opponent	Score
1	vs Chicago Bears	Lost 37-59
2	at Atlanta Falcons	Won 34-3
3	at Cleveland Browns	Lost 18-21
4	vs Detroit Lions	Won 32-26

Quick answers

Can the Carolina Panthers still make the 2026 NFL playoffs?: The Carolina Panthers can still make the 2026 NFL playoffs. If the season ended today they would be the number 4 seed in the NFC. Winning every game left would put them in the playoffs whatever happens elsewhere.
What is the Carolina Panthers record in 2026?: Record: 2-2. Place in the NFC South: 1 of 4.
How is this calculated?: A team is counted as still in the hunt when at least one set of results for the games left would put it in the playoffs, as division winner or wild card, taking into account that its rivals also play each other. It is counted as clinched only when no set of results can keep it out. Teams are compared on wins, a tie counting as half a win. While games remain, the league's tie-breakers are not used for this: teams level on record are treated cautiously, level being enough to stay in and never enough to clinch. The tie-breakers (head-to-head, division and conference records, common games, strength of victory and of schedule, points) give the order of the tables, the seeds if the season ended today and, once every game is played, the final field. Scores come from the nflverse project.