CHARLOTTE – When the Falcons lost the early game to the Buccaneers Sunday, assuring Atlanta last place in the NFC South, the Panthers could pencil in some plans for 2021.

By finishing in third place in the division, the Panthers now know who they’ll play in next year’s schedule rotation.

While 14 of those games were known going into the season, three other games hinged on the results of the season (including a 17th game that is widely expected to be added sometime this offseason).

The Panthers will host the third-place team in the NFC North, meaning the Vikings will come to Charlotte. Carolina will also visit the third-place team in the NFC West, which equals a trip to Arizona.

In addition to the home and road games with the Falcons, Saints, and Buccaneers, the Panthers had locked in 10 other