- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 16-14 in their final regular-season game.
- Both teams’ playoff hopes now depend on the outcome of the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game.
- The Buccaneers need a Saints victory or a tie to win the NFC South and make the playoffs.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales wore a hat during his team’s Week 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that had the word “OPPORTUNITY” written on it.
Ironic.
Both teams enter the final day of the regular season with their respective playoff fates beyond their control. A potential Atlanta Falcons victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 4 would render the Buccaneers’ 16-14 victory in sloppy conditions Jan. 3 in Tampa moot. But if the Saints win (or tie), the Bucs would move on as the NFC’s No. 4 seed and NFC South division winners for the fifth straight season.
The Panthers cracked the window for the sliding doors scenario – a win would have automatically clinched the division title for Carolina, who can still make the playoffs with a Falcons victory.
“Shoot, I think we’re all gonna be on the seat of our – the edge of our seats (Sunday), watching that game, hoping for the outcome, for the Falcons to pull through,” Canales told reporters after the game. “At the same time, at least we have that hope to look at.”
Baker Mayfield ‘hates’ the Saints, but will pull for them Sunday
For Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who earlier this season made headlines for espousing his hatred of the Saints, it’s a somewhat awkward situation.
“We’ll all be pulling for New Orleans,” Mayfield told reporters.
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David started his postgame news conference by thanking everybody in the room for the past 14 years, which begged the question: “So is this it?”
“Nah,” he replied. “I’m trying to see what the Saints are going to do tomorrow.”
He never thought the day would come in which he had to root for the Saints.
“I got some guys over there who I know who I can get in contact with to make sure they handle business,” he said.
Mayfield was quick to point out that a tie could get the Bucs into the playoffs too. He said there could be a group text sent out for a watch party among teammates.
‘We put ourselves in this situation’
Carolina signal-caller Bryce Young said he hasn’t even thought about the Falcons-Saints matchup. Missing out on the opportunity – there’s that word again – to take the division for themselves and now that it’s in the hands of somebody else is uncomfortable.
“I might not even watch, to be honest with you,” he told reporters.
Waiting is all these two teams can do, Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said.
‘Can’t wait for tomorrow if we didn’t win today,” Bowles told reporters. He continued: “Gave ourselves a chance. All we can ask for.”
He will be watching the 1 p.m. ET kickoff from home. His team watched a 5-1 start to the season slip away and Bowles said they could have made “a ton” of plays down the stretch. But dwelling on the past doesn’t change it, he said.
“It’s disappointing today. Could be jubilation tomorrow,” Bowles said. “If tomorrow doesn’t happen, it’ll be disappointing. We put ourselves in this situation. We’re grown men about it.”
Mayfield agreed with everything Bowles said. The focus was always beating the Panthers and then letting the chips fall as they may.
“Honestly, it just felt good to get back into that win column, have that singular-game focus, control what we can control. It’s just about us right now. Go execute to the best level that we can and find a way to win.”
Mayfield was asked about his thoughts on the Bucs should they advance.
“Feel good about it,” he said with that type of grin that says more than anything that actually came out of Mayfield’s mouth. “Feel good about it if we get in.”
“If” being the uncomfortable reality for the last day of the season.
