Tampa Bay’s Football Fate Hangs on Unlikely Allies
TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves in a situation they might not have expected: needing the New Orleans Saints to win. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers are hoping for an Atlanta Falcons victory.
In a season where the NFC South title could be won with a less-than-stellar record, the Buccaneers (8-9) secured a narrow 16-14 win against the Carolina Panthers on a rainy Saturday. This keeps their playoff hopes alive, but only if New Orleans (6-10) can defeat or tie Atlanta (7-9) on Sunday. A Falcons win would give the Panthers (8-9) the division title.
“I never thought I’d see a day where I’m rooting for the Saints,” Bucs veteran Lavonte David said.
The Buccaneers hold a tiebreaker over the Panthers. But Carolina holds the three-team tiebreaker over Tampa Bay if Atlanta also finishes 8-9.
The game against Carolina was a hard-fought victory, with Baker Mayfield throwing a touchdown pass to Cade Otton and Chase McLaughlin kicking three field goals. Despite the win, the team is now relying on the outcome of another game to determine their playoff destiny.
Coach Todd Bowles plans to watch the game at home.
“I think we’ll all be on the edge of our seats,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “Hoping for the Falcons to come through, but at the same time, at least we have that hope to look at. We have to look at ourselves and we have to make sure that in these championship moments that we play our best.”
Adding to the sense of change, longtime Buccaneers radio voice Gene Deckerhoff is retiring after 37 years. There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of key players like Mike Evans and Lavonte David, who may have played their final game with the team.
