CHARLOTTE — For a day at least, the Panthers love the Falcons.
Atlanta beat New Orleans 19-17 Sunday at the Georgia Dome, creating a three-way tie atop the NFC South at 8-9.
And that means the Panthers win.
Thanks to an edge in the three-way tiebreaker, the Panthers won the NFC South title on Sunday. The Panthers swept the Falcons this year, and that was the difference.
The Falcons did it with a stingy defense, and four field goals by former Panthers kicker Zane Gonzalez (which means all is forgiven for the whole Buffalo pregame thing in 2021). And having a Saints touchdown wiped out by an offensive pass interference was doubtless satisfying for a lot of Panthers fans watching on television.
It's the first division championship for the Panthers since 2015, which, like 2003, was a year that began against the Jaguars and ended in the Super Bowl. Just saying.
But there's no need to get ahead of ourselves here, because the first home playoff game in a decade is enough to celebrate on a beautiful sunny day in Charlotte.
The Panthers will face the NFC West runner-up next weekend, which will be the Rams if they beat the Cardinals later this afternoon. If Arizona wins, the 49ers would come to Charlotte for the wild card game.
The date and time and broadcast information for the game will be announced later tonight.
Stay tuned for details, because there's more football to be played in Bank of America Stadium.
Check out some of the best shots from the Panthers' Week 18 game against the Buccaneers.
