Carolina seal first-round NFL playoff bye

The Carolina Panthers improved their season record to 13-0 on Sunday and became the first team to clinch a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs.

The Cam Newton-led Panthers, runaway winners of the NFC South, routed the Atlanta Falcons 38-0 and are two games better than the 11-2 Arizona Cardinals in the NFC standings.

The top two teams in each conference receive a first-round playoff bye, a significant advantage in a league that uses a cut-throat, single elimination post-season format.

The Cardinals, who lead the NFC West, are the only other NFC team assured of a playoff berth at this point.

No AFC team has clinched a playoff spot yet.