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SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' NFL experts tell you who's going to win the biggest matchups of Week 15. USA TODAY Sports

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Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is the subject of an internal investigation over alleged workplace misconduct, the team announced Friday night. 

The statement issued by the Panthers didn’t give specifics of the allegations made against the 81-year-old Richardson. The team has hired the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart and Sullivan to lead the investigation with the input from former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, a minority owner of the team.

“The Carolina Panthers and Mr. Richardson take these allegations very seriously and are fully committed to a full investigation and taking appropriate steps to address and remediate any misconduct,” Panthers spokesman Steven Drummond said in a statement. 

“The entire organization is fully committed to ensuring a safe, comfortable and diverse work environment where all individuals, regardless of sex, race, color, religion, gender, or sexual identity or orientation, are treated fairly and equally. We have work to do to achieve this goal, but we are going to meet it."

A person who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject told USA TODAY Sports the team informed NFL officials of the situation Friday afternoon.

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ESPN was the first outlet to report the Panthers had launched the inquiry. 

The Panthers said in a statement the team would not comment further “because this matter is under an ongoing legal review.”

“Erskine Bowles is a trusted leader of unquestioned integrity," Drummond said. "We look forward to this report, which we know will be honest and thorough.”

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy declined to comment when contacted by USA TODAY Sports on Friday.

Contributing: Mike Jones

NFL Week 15 Power Rankings
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32. Browns (32): Josh Gordon's been back two weeks,
32. Browns (32): Josh Gordon's been back two weeks, and he's already focused on TD celebrations and tweeting at opponents (plus subtweeting Browns). Too soon, dude.  Scott Galvin, USA TODAY Sports
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31. Giants (31): Defense has obviously underachieved.
31. Giants (31): Defense has obviously underachieved. But did you know it ranks last in NFL after giving up 400-plus yards in seven of last 10 outings?  Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports
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30. Texans (26): Maybe the "inmates" are running team's
30. Texans (26): Maybe the "inmates" are running team's concussion protocol procedures? Nice job selling your organization to free agents this season, Texans.  Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
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29. Colts (25): We always assumed Adam Vinatieri was
29. Colts (25): We always assumed Adam Vinatieri was automatic in a driving snowstorm. Never pretty when the innocence of youth is stripped away.  Rich Barnes, USA TODAY Sports
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28. Bengals (21): Marvin Lewis after his team was thumped
28. Bengals (21): Marvin Lewis after his team was thumped by the lowly Bears: “I’m at a loss for words today." Not really much to add to that statement.  David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports
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27. Bears (29): Mitch Trubisky showed something Sunday.
27. Bears (29): Mitch Trubisky showed something Sunday. Get him a receiver and a savvy offensive coach, and this team could be a dark horse in 2018.  Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports
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26. 49ers (28): Jimmy Garoppolo did a nice job navigating
26. 49ers (28): Jimmy Garoppolo did a nice job navigating his soft launch. Let's see how he finishes season out against three teams likely headed to playoffs.  Shanna Lockwood, USA TODAY Sports
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25. Jets (17): Gotta feel for Josh McCown, who played
25. Jets (17): Gotta feel for Josh McCown, who played far better than anyone expected. NYJ still need QB but makes sense to re-sign McCown for two or three years.  Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports
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24. Broncos (30): First shutout in 12 years enabled
24. Broncos (30): First shutout in 12 years enabled Denver to avoid matching franchise record nine-game losing skid. It's all about silver linings at this point.  Isaiah J. Downing, USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 11, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins
23. Dolphins (27): They may have a star in second-year CB Xavien Howard, who has four INTs over past two weeks and vexed Tom Brady on Monday.  Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports
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22. Buccaneers (24): Jameis Winston now has 41 interceptions
22. Buccaneers (24): Jameis Winston now has 41 interceptions in 42 professional starts. Starting to feel like he's on the Mark Sanchez career trajectory.  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
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21. Raiders (15): Apparently, paying your quarterback
21. Raiders (15): Apparently, paying your quarterback $25 million per season will buy you six wins after 13 games.  Jay Biggerstaff, USA TODAY Sports
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20. Redskins (20): However, paying your quarterback
20. Redskins (20): However, paying your quarterback $24 million per season will only buy you five wins after 13 games.  Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports
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19. Cardinals (23): Maybe they should apply for membership
19. Cardinals (23): Maybe they should apply for membership in the AFC South. They beat Titans, Jags and Colts this year but are just 3-6 against NFC competition.  Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
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18. Chiefs (19): Let that be a valuable lesson, Marcus
18. Chiefs (19): Let that be a valuable lesson, Marcus Peters -- your team turned in its best performance, maybe in months, with you exiled to your couch.  Bill Kostroun, AP
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17. Bills (22): If LeSean McCoy was able to play in
17. Bills (22):If LeSean McCoy were able to play in snow every week, it wouldn't take him long to overtake Emmitt Smith as the NFL's all-time leading rusher.   Rich Barnes, USA TODAY Sports
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16. Lions (16): We thought Matthew Stafford and Calvin
16. Lions (16): We thought Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson were a formidable duo. Turns out Matthew Stafford and Matt Prater might be a better one.  Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
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15. Titans (12): Defense is finally playing well enough
15. Titans (12): Defense is finally playing well enough to carry them into January ... just as Marcus Mariota's crisis of confidence may end team's playoff hopes.  Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports
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14. Cowboys (18): Welcome back, Sean Lee, who racked
14. Cowboys (18): Welcome back, Sean Lee, who racked up 18 tackles and an INT after month-long absence. But is there enough time left for a successful playoff push?  Adam Hunger, AP
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13. Packers (14): Good job, Brett Hundley, you got
13. Packers (14): Good job, Brett Hundley, you got baton back to Aaron Rodgers. And Pack can spin your trade value given passer rating is 40 points higher on road.  Jim Matthews, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin-USA TODAY Sports
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12. Ravens (13): They're in good shape from postseason
12. Ravens (13): They're in good shape from postseason perspective given final three opponents are combined 8-31. But now we question if defense is playoff-ready.  Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport
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11. Chargers (11): What better way to celebrate '92
11. Chargers (11): What better way to celebrate '92 Chargers, the only NFL team to make playoffs after 0-4 start, than by making the playoffs after an 0-4 start?  Jake Roth, USA TODAY Sports
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10. Eagles (5): Just how impressive is Carson Wentz?
10. Eagles (5): Just how impressive is Carson Wentz? He played four snaps AFTER tearing his ACL, finishing his season with club record 33rd TD pass in 13th game.  Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
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9. Seahawks (4): Complete season sweep of Rams on Sunday,
9. Seahawks (4): Complete season sweep of Rams on Sunday, and they reclaim first place in NFC West with prospect of entering playoffs with conference's best QB.  Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports
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8. Falcons (10): After starting 7-5 last season, they
8. Falcons (10):After starting 7-5 last season, they made it all the way to the Super Bowl. Atlanta hasn't, ahem, lost this year, either, since starting 7-5.  Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports
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7. Jaguars (9): A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey have emerged
7. Jaguars (9): A.J. Bouye and Jalen Ramsey have emerged as league's top corner tandem, and no duo can match their 10 combined INTs. We'd just run the ball.  Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports
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6. Panthers (8): Jonathan Stewart averaged 6.4 yards
6. Panthers (8): Jonathan Stewart averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored three TDs Sunday. For balance of season, he's averaged 3.2 yards with three TDs.  Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports
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New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs near Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik) ORG XMIT: GAMS1  Danny Karnik, AP
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4. Rams (6): They edge up rankings despite narrow loss
4. Rams (6): They edge up rankings despite narrow loss to Eagles. But they could be direct beneficiaries of adversity in Philadelphia and Seattle.  Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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3. Vikings (3): Who would have suspected battle for
3. Vikings (3): Who would have suspected battle for home-field advantage in NFC might come down to whether Case Keenum could outplay Nick Foles down stretch?  Jeremy Brevard, USA TODAY Sports
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Dec 11, 2017; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New England Patriots
2. Patriots (1): If Tom Brady had played most of his career in South Florida, where he’s 7-9 all time, he’d probably be drawing Jeff George comparisons.  Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports
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2. Steelers (2): Kinda cool Big Ben has record three
2. Steelers (2): Kinda cool Big Ben has record three 500-yard passing games in career (all wins). But 66 throws? That's rather Kobe-esque, no conscience.  Philip G. Pavely, USA TODAY Sports
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