The Carolina Panthers couldn't get the job done against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. And now, destiny is not in their own hands.
Fans are now bracing for the moment they dreaded. That, of course, is rooting for the bitter rival Atlanta Falcons to beat the New Orleans Saints.
Nobody connected to the Panthers wanted this. Losing their last two games isn't ideal, but they still have hope. If Atlanta beats an in-form New Orleans team in its regular-season finale, Carolina will be NFC South champions for the first time in a decade.