The Bears and Packers will kick off the 2019 NFL season tonight. At this time of year, fans of every team have reason to feel hopeful. While technically all 32 teams have the same chance of reaching the promised land, we all know that realistically some have a more difficult path ahead of them than others.
That especially applies to teams playing in brutal divisions, like those of the NFC South. This offseason, the Panthers radically upgraded their defensive line and filled a couple other significant roster holes. Nevertheless, their odds of making the postseason aren’t great.
According to a projection by FiveThirtyEight, Carolina only has a 38 percent chance of making the playoffs this season. That’s one percent lower than Atlanta and far behind the division favorite, New Orleans. The Saints have a 63 percent chance of making the postseason, the best of any team in the NFC.
Winning the division is the only guaranteed way to get there. The Panthers have just a 22 percent chance to take the NFC South this year, though according to the model. Their chances of earning a first-round bye are 12 percent and their chances of winning the Super Bowl is three percent.
