The Carolina Panthers head to the Crescent City for a divisional rubber match against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, December 14, 2025, with Carolina aiming to reclaim NFC South supremacy after a frustrating Week 10 loss to New Orleans (17-7) snapped their four-game win streak. The Panthers (7-6), tied with Tampa Bay atop the division post-bye, rely on Bryce Young’s growing poise (2,456 pass yds, 14 TD/8 INT) and a surging run game (125.5 ypg, 12th) to exploit the Saints’ porous defense (31.8 OPP PPG allowed, 28th). New Orleans (3-10), mathematically eliminated but buoyed by a shocking 24-20 upset over the Buccaneers last week, turns to rookie QB Tyler Shough (282 yds/2 TD in debut win vs. CAR) for stability amid a seven-loss skid. This rematch at the Superdome—where Saints are 2-4 at home—could define Carolina’s wild-card push, but New Orleans’ recent spoiler form adds intrigue. Win sims: Panthers 57%.
Kickoff: 4:25 PM ET (3:25 PM CT).
Broadcast: FOX: Jason Benetti, Robert Griffin III, Sarah Kustok (field reporter)
Streaming on NFL+ ($6.99/mo) and YouTube TV. Pregame coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.
Venue Location:
Caesars Superdome, 1500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 (29°57’00″N 90°04’50″W). This iconic 73,000-seat indoor arena—home to the Saints since 1975—features a massive retractable roof (closed for this game) and vibrant Mardi Gras-themed concourses, creating a humid, electric atmosphere. Accessible via I-10 (exit 234A) or Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY, 20-min drive). Parking at adjacent lots ($25-40); hotels like the Hilton New Orleans Riverside (0.5-mile walk) offer game packages. Tickets via Ticketmaster start at $85 (upper level).
Injury Report
Both teams held full practices Thursday, with Carolina emerging healthier post-bye (all active roster players participated), while New Orleans’ key absences linger from last week’s Bucs win. Updates as of December 11 (via NFL.com; Friday reports pending).
Carolina Panthers:
Full Participation: All 53 active roster players, including CB Jaycee Horn (concussion—cleared via protocol), ILB Claudin Cherelus (concussion—full), C Cade Mays (ankle—full), S Lathan Ransom (thumb—full), ILB Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring—full).
No Concerns: QB Bryce Young (NIR—full), RB Rico Dowdle (NIR—full).
Impact: Clean slate boosts confidence; Horn’s return strengthens secondary (team 23rd pass D, 261.7 ypg allowed).
New Orleans Saints:
DNP: RB Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle—DNP both days, doubtful; 929 yds/5 TD season), T Asim Richards (ankle—DNP, out).
Limited: S Justin Reid (knee—limited both days, trending up), RB Devin Neal (undisclosed—limited Thu, positive progression).
Full: No new additions; QB Tyler Shough (NIR—full).
Impact: Kamara’s absence guts run game (team 31st, 73 ypg); Reid’s knee thins safety depth vs. Young’s mobility. Neal’s return adds RB spark.
No PED/COVID flags; expect Friday upgrades for Reid/Neal.
Player Matchups
This rematch contrasts Carolina’s balanced attack with New Orleans’ spoiler grit, where Young’s growth vs. Saints’ front defines the narrative. Key stylistic edges:
QB Bryce Young (CAR) vs. Saints Pass Rush (Carl Granderson/Samuel Franklin): Young (124 yds/0 TD, 1 INT in Week 10 loss) rebounds vs. NO’s 22nd pressure (2.5 sacks/g). Granderson (5 sacks) exploits CAR’s 28th OL (24 sacks allowed), but Young’s 61.5% comp. shines in dome.
RB Rico Dowdle (CAR) vs. Saints Front 7 (Demario Davis/Pete Werner): Dowdle (929 yds/5 TD, 5.3 ypc) gashed NO for 53 yds last time—Saints allow 156 rush ypg (31st). CAR’s 12th rush vs. Davis’ tackling.
WR Diontae Johnson/Xavier Legette (CAR) vs. CB Paulson Adebo/Cool Pope: Johnson (top target post-Trade) vs. Adebo’s coverage (8 PD); Legette’s speed tests Pope’s slot.
QB Tyler Shough (NO) vs. Panthers Secondary (Jaycee Horn/Troy Hill): Shough (282 yds/2 TD debut vs. CAR) vs. DET’s 23rd pass D (261.7 ypg). Horn’s return neutralizes deep threats.
RB Devin Neal (NO, Kamara proxy) vs. Panthers Front (Derrick Brown/Shy Tuttle): Neal (emerging, 55 rush yds last) vs. CAR’s 10th run D (107.1 ypg allowed); Hutchinson’s edge pressure.
Panthers Offense Edge: 5.3 ypp (22nd) vs. Saints’ 31.8 OPP PPG allowed.
Team Records
| Team | Record | Division | Playoff Odds | Key Stats |
| Panthers | 7-6 (.538) | 1st NFC South (tied) | 45% | 20.2 PPG (24th), 27.2 OPP PPG (28th), 344.9 TOT YPG (15th) |
| Saints | 3-10 (.231) | 4th NFC South | 0% | 15.6 PPG (31st), 31.8 OPP PPG (28th), 329.3 TOT YPG (25th) |
Panthers: Post-bye surge eyes wild card. Saints: Eliminated, but 2-0 last 2 (upset Bucs).
Recent Form
Carolina Panthers (3-2 in last 5): Pre-bye momentum with Young’s efficiency (61.5% comp.); run game powers wins, but Week 10 L to NO exposed pass protection.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Nov 23 | vs LAR | W 31-28 | Young 250 yds/2 TD; Dowdle 80 yds, bye follows. |
| Nov 16 | @ TB | W 24-20 | Balanced; 52.4% 3rd-down conv. |
| Nov 9 | vs NO | L 7-17 | Young 124 yds/0 TD, 1 INT; run stifled. |
| Nov 2 | @ NO (wait, series) | W 23-22 | Young 220 yds; close div win. |
| Oct 26 | vs ATL | W 27-24 | Dowdle 100+ yds; upset. |
New Orleans Saints (1-4 in last 5): Rookie Shough sparks 2 straight wins post-6-game skid; D opportunistic (2 TO forced vs. TB), but offense anemic (15.6 PPG).
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 7 | @ TB | W 24-20 | Shough 280 yds/2 TD; upset road win. |
| Nov 30 | vs ATL | L 20-27 | Shough relief 150 yds; 36.4% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 23 | @ CAR | W 17-7 | Shough debut 282 yds/2 TD; D holds. |
| Nov 16 | vs CLE | L 13-24 | Turnover woes; 30.8% 3rd-down. |
| Nov 9 | @ TB | L 24-31 | 3 TO; D allows 350 yds. |
Series History
Saints lead all-time 33-29 (62 meetings, no playoffs), with New Orleans winning 4 of last 5 (including Week 10’s 17-7 upset). Avg. score: Saints 22.4-20.7 Panthers. Trend: Unders (U 7/10 recent); close (7/10 <7 pts). December: Saints 4-3 SU home vs. CAR. ATS: Panthers 8-5 season.
Betting Trends
Under draws 60% volume at 40.5 (U 8/10 Saints, series U 7/10; 8 straight Saints unders pre-Bucs). Saints +2.5 sees sharp support (35% high-limits) as dogs (5-8 ATS, 4-1 vs. CAR last 5); Panthers 8-5 ATS overall (3-3 road). CAR 1-4 ATS post-bye historical; X trends: 75% pro-Panthers post-bye. Stable lines; no major movement expected.
Predicted Score: Carolina Panthers 213, New Orleans Saints 17
PANTHERS NOTES:
• QB BRYCE YOUNG completed 15 of 20 att. (75 pct.) for 206 yards & 3 TDs for 147.1 rating in Week 13, incl. his 11th-career game-winning drive, the most in the NFL since 2023, & became the youngest QB in NFL history with 11 game-winning drives. Has 200+ pass yards in 2 of his past 3 & aims for 4th in row with TD pass. • RB RICO DOWDLE had 79 scrimmage yards (58 rush, 21 rec.) in Week 13 & aims for 4th in row with 70+ scrimmage yards. Aims for 2nd consecutive 1,000+ yard rush season (929). Had rush TD in Week 10 meeting. • RB CHUBA HUBBARD led team with season-high 124 scrimmage yards (83 rush, 41 rec.) & had TD reception in Week 13. • WR TETAIROA MCMILLAN had 6th TD catch of season in Week 13, tied-most among rookies this season. Ranks 1st among rookies with 826 rec. yards in 2025. Aims for 4th in row with TD reception. • WR JALEN COKER had team & season-high 74 rec. yards & 1st TD catch of 2025 in Week 13. • LB D.J. WONNUM had 1st FR of season in Week 13. • LB TREVIN WALLACE had 6 tackles & TFL in Week 13 & aims for 3rd in row with TFL. • DT DERRICK BROWN had sack, PD & 1st FF of season in Week 13. Aims for 3rd in row with PD. Had 9 tackles & TFL in Week 10 meeting. • CB MIKE JACKSON had INT-TD in Week 13 & has 3 INTs this season. Aims for 5th in row with PD. • CB JAYCEE HORN is only player with 2+ games with 2 INTs in 2025. Has career-high 5 INTs this season, tied-2nd most in NFL. • S NICK SCOTT had 9 tackles & 1st INT of season in Week 13. Aims for 4th in row with 8+ tackles. • S LATHAN RANSOM (rookie) led team with career-high 11 tackles & had 1st sack of season in Week 13.
SAINTS NOTES:
• QB TYLER SHOUGH completed 13 of 20 att. (65.0 pct.) for 144 pass yards & had 55 rush yards & 2 TDs in Week 14, incl. a 34-yard rush TD, the longest by a NO QB all-time. Is 1 of 2 NO QBs (Archie Manning) all-time with 50+ rush yards & 2+ rush TDs in a single game Has 230+ pass yards in 3 of his past 4. • RB ALVIN KAMARA has 7,250 career rush yards & 4,948 career rec. yards & can become 5th player ever with 5,000+ career rush yards & 5,000+ career rec. yards. Ranks 6th in NFL with 61 rush TDs since 2017. Had 115 scrimmage yards in Week 10 meeting. • RB DEVIN NEAL (rookie) led team with 70 rush yards & had 1st career rush TD last week. • WR CHRIS OLAVE is 1 of 6 WRs this season with 50+ rec yards in 10+ games. Had 104 rec. yards & TD catch in Week 10 meeting. • WR DEVAUGHN VELE led team with 40 rec. yards in Week 14 & aims for 3rd in row with 40+ rec. yards. • TE JUWAN JOHNSON had 92 rec. yards & TD catch in Week 10 meeting & has rec. TD in 2 of his past 3 vs. Car. • LB DEMARIO DAVIS led team with 7 tackles last week & aims for 8th in row with 7+ tackles. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 1,495 tackles since 2012 & can become 1 of 3 (Bobby Wagner & London Fletcher) with 1,500+ tackles since 2000. • DE CAMERON JORDAN had PD in Week 14. Has 128 sacks & 747 tackles since 2011 & is 1 of 2 players (Terrell Suggs) since 2000 with 125+ sacks & 745+ tackles in their career. • DE CHASE YOUNG aims for 3rd in row at home with sack. • CB ALONTAE TAYLOR had 2nd INT of season & 2 PD in Week 14. Had 6 tackles, TFL & INT in Week 10 meeting. • CB KOOL-AID MCKINSTRY had team-high 7 tackles & PD in Week 14. Aims for 4th in row with PD.
Game Odds
Carolina Panthers -2.5
New Orleans Saints 40.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
