The Buccaneers beat the Panthers in an NFC South showdown on Saturday to keep their postseason hopes alive. Just a few weeks ago, it looked like the Week 18 matchup would decide the division champion, but after an unlikely run by the Falcons to end the year, it is now Atlanta that holds the keys to the playoffs—but they can only open the door for the Panthers or Bucs, not for themselves.
With the Bucs win, both Tampa Bay and Carolina are now 8–9 on the year, tied atop the NFC South standings. Should they remain the only two teams at 8–9, the tiebreaker would eventually come down to common opponents, sending the Bucs to the playoffs.
