This is the latest in a season that a team can have a bye week in 2025.
That's what the Carolina Panthers get to enjoy in Week 14, getting to relax at home on Sunday and just watch the rest of the NFL in action.
The Panthers will get a chance to rest and recover before what shapes up as a huge stretch run.
Carolina has headed to its bye at 7-6, very much in the NFC playoff picture.
Here's what to keep an eye on for Carolina fans.
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What Panthers need to happen in Week 14
There are multiple games to keep an eye on, but the biggest involves the division leaders.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 7-5 entering the day, half a game up on the Panthers. It's Buccaneers-Saints at 1 p.m. ET. Carolina will be rooting for the Saints to pull off a massive upset that would push the Panthers into an equal record with the Bucs.
Elsewhere, the Panthers' rooting interests have to do with the wild card, which will be tough to get in a loaded NFC. The best Carolina can do is have the division leaders pull away and have everyone else come back to the field.
That means in the NFC North, the Panthers want the Bears to beat the Packers.
The Lions already beat the Cowboys on Thursday night in a result that's probably close to neutral for Carolina's chances.
Really, this likely comes down to winning the NFC South. So Panthers fans turn into Saints fans on Sunday.
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