When the NFL schedule was originally announced fans of the Carolina Panthers expected this Week 15 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks to have playoff implications. Arguably the biggest non-divisional rival for Carolina as these two teams have (since 2011) met eight times and twice in the playoffs, but Sunday’s outcome will only have an impact on the visiting Seahawks.
Currently the fifth seed, Seattle is chasing their division leader, San Francisco, who they face to conclude regular season play in two weeks. In turn, they are being chased my the Minnesota Vikings for an opportunity to face whoever wins the dreadful NFC East in the first round.