Dec. 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. ET
Sunday won’t be as eventful as it usually is for Carolina Panthers fans, as their guys will be out of action in their latest bye week since 2001. But with the team at 7-6 and very much alive in this year’s playoff race, that afternoon’s slate will still mean something.
So for the Carolina faithful who are searching for some skin in the game this weekend, we advise you to take a look (and adhere to) our Week 14 rooting guide . . .
Who to root for: New Orleans
Here’s an easy (or a “Big Easy”) one.
The Panthers sit just half a game behind the 7-5 Bucs for the NFC South lead. A New Orleans win would pull Carolina even atop the division, a feeling they haven’t experienced this late into a season since 2017—the year of their last playoff berth.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons (1:00 p.m. ET)
Who to root for: Atlanta
Yeah, it’ll be a tough pill to swallow. But the 4-8 Falcons, whom the Panthers have already swept, are hardly a threat to crack the NFC playoff picture anymore.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, enter the week at 9-3—and could end up looking down at the Panthers in the wild-card hunt. Although Carolina’s best path to the postseason is through a division title, we can’t rule out the possibility of a wild-card run just yet.
Who to root for: Chicago
A toughie.
The Panthers have played and beaten the Packers (8-3-1) this season, which could hold weight in a potential wild-card tiebreaker. Not only would the Week 9 victory give Carolina the primary head-to-head edge over Green Bay, but it could—per the league’s tiebreaking procedure—help with the following steps in a tie with another team:
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four
4. Strength of victory in all games
5. Strength of schedule in all games
A Packers win over their NFC North rivals would strengthen the Panthers’ résumé.
But they’re currently a tad closer to the Panthers than the Bears (9-3) are. So, we’ll take the simpler route at a wild-card fight with Green Bay and hope for a Chicago win.
Who to root for: Arizona
This is similar to the Seattle-Atlanta showdown.
Los Angeles, at 9-3, might be out of reach for Carolina in a wild-card chase. If they do catch them, however, their shocking Week 13 upset over the Rams from last Sunday would come in handy.
Others
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