Why Panthers’ Week 15 matchup against the Saints is important for playoff push
The Carolina Panthers returned from their bye week Monday with a spot at the top of the NFC South.
As Carolina (7-6) rested Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) were upset at home by the New Orleans Saints (3-10). Tampa Bay’s letdown put the Panthers even with the Buccaneers heading into the final stretch of the season.
“I was watching the game,” Coach Dave Canales said Monday. “I wanted to make sure I was connected to the story of it. I gotta to be honest — I got a little emotionally involved in the game at times. ... But how can you not? It impacts all of us in this division. And it certainly impacts us this week with another division opponent.”
There are four games left to play. Two of those matchups will feature Carolina-Tampa Bay clashes. Both sides know what’s at stake, and the Panthers are in a position they haven’t been in since 2017 (the last time they made the playoffs).
But Canales, in his second season at the helm, is focused on the week at hand.
The Panthers were also upset by the Saints at home in Week 10. This week, they’ll have their rematch in New Orleans, where they haven’t won since the 2022 regular-season finale.
Canales understands that avenging the previous loss to the Saints will put the Panthers in position to control their destiny throughout the rest of the campaign.
“It’s easy for me to sell it in these types of situations, especially knowing what’s in front of us,” Canales said. “The way we do it is, we take it one opponent at a time — the goal is 1-0 with a chance to win the division — it’s right here in front of us.”
The impact of the Saints rematch for the NFC South race
The Saints rematch is important. While it’s not a must-win matchup — because of the two future bouts with Tampa Bay — a victory over New Orleans could help the Panthers wrap up the division race early.
The Buccaneers host the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) on Thursday. If Tampa Bay loses in upset fashion (again) to Atlanta, and the Panthers handle business against the Saints on Sunday, Carolina can claim the NFC South crown with a home win over the Buccaneers next week.
That combination would give Carolina the division tiebreaker over Tampa Bay, regardless of what happens in Week 18.
And even if the Buccaneers prevail over the Falcons, beating the Saints would give the Panthers insurance, not only for the division but a potential (and unlikely) wild-card spot.
A Week 15 win for Carolina would give the Panthers a 3-1 division record and an 8-6 record overall. Those records would keep them in pace with Tampa Bay, if they were to defeat Atlanta, giving both teams wiggle room in case of a 1-1 split in their season series.
If the Panthers were to defeat the Saints but lose to the Buccaneers in Week 16, Carolina would still be in the running for the division — with a far outside shot at a wild-card spot.
If Tampa Bay were to defeat Atlanta, Panthers’ losses to the Saints and Buccaneers, back to back, to start the final stretch would clinch the division for Tampa Bay.
While the Panthers can win the division by defeating the Buccaneers in both of their upcoming matchups, it might not be all that easy to pull off a sweep of the five-time defending division champs.
So, padding the Panthers’ win column against a lesser talented division foe — in theory — would be ideal.
The top sixth tiebreakers for the division title are as follows:
- Head-to-head (first)
- Division record (second)
- Common opponents (third)
- Conference record (fourth)
- Strength of victory (fifth)
- Strength of schedule (sixth)
Five players return to Panthers practice, rookie misses workout
The Panthers welcomed back a handful of contributors to practice on Monday.
In cold, rainy weather, cornerback Jaycee Horn (concussion protocol), linebackers Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and Claudin Cherelus (concussion protocol), center Cade Mays (ankle) and safety Tre’von Moehrig (lifted suspension) participated in the first workout of the week.
All five players missed the home win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. Rozeboom and Mays were out of the loop for two consecutive matchups.
Moehrig, who was suspended for the win over the Rams, had his punishment uplifted last week. He was suspended for a low blow hit to San Francisco 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings in a Week 12 road loss.
Horn and Cherelus both have made enough progress in the NFL’s concussion protocol to be allowed to work out with their teammates.
“We’ll do all the injuries on Wednesday, but they are both trending in the right direction,” Canales said. “They’re in the protocol so they have to make sure they keep clearing the different things that they have to — making sure we’re doing the right thing for the guys.”
The lone holdout from Monday’s workout was rookie safety Lathan Ransom.
The fourth-round pick injured his left hand in the win against the Rams after sustaining an unrelated hand injury in Week 10 against the Saints.
Ransom was seen working out with trainers off to the side during the media portion of practice.
“This was a different injury — I’m not sure if it was the same hand — this is a different one,” Canales said.
Canales also told reporters that the team doesn’t plan to activate right guard Robert Hunt’s 21-day practice window on injured reserve this week.
Hunt has been sidelined since Week 3 with a torn biceps.
“He’s getting closer,” Canales said. “We’re not going to open up his window this week. But he’s getting closer, he’s getting stronger, and would love to see him back at some point over this next stretch.”
Quick hits
- Entering Week 15, first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan still leads all rookies with 826 receiving yards. He also has six receiving touchdowns, which is tied with Buccaneers wideout Emeka Egbuka for the top spot among rookies. Egbuka (54 catches for 806 yards and six touchdowns) and Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (60 catches for 699 yards and four TDs) are McMillan’s main competition in the rookie receiving categories.
- Running back Rico Dowdle currently sits ninth on the rushing leader board with 929 yards. Seven of the eight running backs ahead of Dowdle have already eclipsed 1,000 yards. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor leads the league with 1,356 rushing yards through 13 games.
- Cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson have eight combined interceptions through 13 games. That total is tied for the second-most combined interceptions by a defensive back tandem as of Monday. Houston Texans safeties Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock have also combined for eight interceptions. Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard and cornerback Nahshon Wright have 11 combined interceptions, which leads the league.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
