Carolina fullback Mike Tolbert (35) rolls over Washington linebacker Martrell Spaight (50) for a touchdown during thesecond half of the Panthers' 26-15 win Monday night.

LANDOVER, Md. — All of a sudden the Washington Redskins need help to return to the playoffs.

With their focus turning to a visit to Chicago after a 26-15 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, the Redskins know full well they need to get back on track and hope for the best. They need the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to slip to have any chance of making the postseason.

“We put ourselves in this position, so we can't sit here and feel sorry for ourselves,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “Obviously we're not in the driver's seat anymore and we're going to need some help, but that all doesn't matter if we don't take care of our business.”

A 2-of-12 showing on third down, two turnovers and a running game coach Jay Gruden deemed “atrocious” cost the Redskins (7-6-1) control of their playoff destiny. Games remain at the Bears (3-11) and home against the New York Giants.

The 8-6 Packers host Minnesota and visit Detroit, and the 8-6 Buccaneers visit New Orleans and host Carolina.

“I hate being in this position where you got to wait for teams to win, this team needs to lose,” defensive end Ricky Jean Francois said.

Jonathan Stewart ripped through the Redskins for a career-high 132 yards rushing on 25 carries. It was a performance the Panthers had been waiting for all season, and it came with the veteran at less than 100 percent.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins had one of his worst games, going 32 of 47 for 315 yards with an interception and a fumble.