The Carolina Panthers are NFC South champions for the third straight season.

They locked up the division before their late Sunday afternoon kickoff with the Saints thanks to the Bucs' 23-19 win over the Falcons. After starting the season 5-0, Atlanta has dropped six of its last seven games.

No team had won the NFC South in consecutive seasons until the Panthers did it last year. Now they've gone back-to-back-to-back, guaranteeing at least one home playoff game.

Overall, Carolina has won the NFC South five times, while the rest of the division has three titles each.

Before Sunday, the earliest the Panthers had earned a postseason berth was in Week 15. 

 

WHEN PANTHERS CLINCHED PLAYOFF SPOT

When CAR Clinched	Week	Date
2015	13	12/2/15
2014	17	12/28/14
2013	16	12/22/13
2008	16	12/21/08
2005	17	1/2/06
2003	15	12/14/03
1996	15	12/8/96