:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71765060/usa_today_19646214.0.jpg "NFL playoff picture: What does Steelers-Panthers mean for AFC, NFC playoff standings")
The Pittsburgh Steelers will hit the road to meet the Carolina Panthers today at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. The Panthers are on a two-game win streak and enters this game as a 2.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Both teams are 5-8 heading into this Week 15 matchup and while it may not seem like it, there are playoff implications for this showdown. We'll go over them below.
Panthers playoff picture
Believe it or not, Carolina is sitting just one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for first place in the NFC South and are still very much alive for the division title. A victory today would allow the Panthers to keep pace with the Bucs while a loss would put them behind the eight-ball, although it wouldn't outright eliminate them.
Steelers playoff picture
Pittsburgh still has a minuscule chance at making the playoffs, but the margins are extremely thin. A win keeps the Steelers alive in the playoff hunt while they will will be eliminated with any of the following scenarios:
Loss + Patriots win
Loss + Jets win + Chargers win/tie
Loss + Chargers win + Raiders tie
Tiebreaker implications
A Carolina victory would improve its non-conference record to 2-3, which would give it a leg up on Tampa Bay in that tiebreaker category.