Packers: Five teams to root for in Week 15 as playoffs near

5. Carolina Panthers (vs. Seahawks)

As long as the Seattle Seahawks are in one of the wild-card spots, they aren’t too much of a concern for the Packers. But in one weekend, the Seahawks could jump back into one of the top two seeds. As things stand, if Seattle wins its final three games, it’d win the NFC West and secure a first-round bye.

So with that possible, Packers fans should cheer on Seattle’s opponents. This week, it’s the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers’ season has fallen apart and they’ve now lost five in a row. But they did come close to upsetting the New Orleans Saints a few weeks ago, showing they can pull off a big performance still. A win over the Seahawks would be a big upset, but they’re at home and anything is possible.

A loss for the Seahawks would likely end their hopes of winning the NFC West, barring some good luck in other games. It’d play into the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, who with a victory could move two games ahead and a step closer to the division title.

Green Bay will be hoping the NFC West’s top three all lose, opening the door for the Packers to get the top seed. Unlikely, yes. But while it’s still possible, there’s hope.