In a sloppy slugfest that felt more like a survival test than a football game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scraped by the Carolina Panthers with a 16-14 victory. The win stopped the bleeding of a brutal skid where they dropped seven of their last eight games.
You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from Raymond James Stadium all the way to St. Pete. But hold your horses, folks, this drama isn’t over yet. The Buccaneers did their part, but now they have to play the waiting game.
The Playoff Picture: It All Comes Down To Atlanta
Here is the situation, plain and simple: The Buccaneers are currently sitting in the lobby of the playoffs, waiting for the bouncer to let them in.
Despite the win, Tampa Bay needs a little help from its division rivals. They need the Atlanta Falcons to lose to the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. If the Falcons stumble, the Bucs claim their fifth straight NFC South title. It would be a messy title, but a ticket to the dance is a ticket to the dance.
However, if Atlanta wins, the Panthers take the crown via tiebreaker, and the Bucs go home. So, for one afternoon only, every Bucs fan is an honorary member of “Who Dat” nation.
A Game Of Inches (and Puddles)
Let’s talk about the game itself. It was a defensive grind in driving rain. Offense was hard to come by, and both teams looked like they were running in quicksand.
Baker Mayfield managed to find Cade Otton for a touchdown early, and that proved crucial. Otton was a beast, hauling in seven catches for 94 yards, basically carrying the passing game on his back. On the other side, the Panthers’ running game was nonexistent. Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle couldn’t get any traction, literally or figuratively.
The play of the game, or perhaps the blooper of the game, came late in the fourth quarter. With the Panthers driving and looking to make it a one-score game, Head Coach Dave Canales dialed up a flea-flicker in the red zone. In the pouring rain. You can guess what happened next. The pitch back was fumbled, Lavonte David recovered it, and the Bucs dodged a massive bullet. It was a head-scratcher of a call that Tampa Bay will happily take to the bank.
What’s Next For the Buccaneers?
If the stars align and the Saints beat the Falcons, the Buccaneers will host a playoff game as the No. 4 seed. Their potential opponents? A rematch with the Seahawks, the 49ers, or the Rams.
Tampa Bay has actually beaten both Seattle and San Francisco this season, so there is hope. But before fans start planning tailgate parties for Wild Card weekend, all eyes turn to Atlanta on Sunday at 1 p.m.
