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The Bucs knew heading into play on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium {that a} win over the Falcons would transfer them right into a tie atop the NFC South standings. And regardless of letting a nine-point lead slip away within the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay did get the win it wanted. Baker Mayfield’s 11-yard landing cross to Cade Otton with 31 seconds remaining was the distinction in a 29-25 win that stored the group’s hopes of a division title three-peat alive.
Bucs TE Cade Otton – Picture by: USA As we speak
The Bucs’ dramatic win gave them a season sequence cut up with the Falcons, stopping Atlanta from taking management of the division and the important thing head-to-head tiebreaker. Each groups are 6-7 now, and after head-to-head, the tiebreaker goes to divisional information. Each groups are 3-1 within the division. What it comes right down to from there’s document towards widespread opponents. That’s the place the Bucs have the sting proper now, and it’s why they presently maintain first place within the division.
The opposite half of the division squared off in New Orleans on Sunday, and the Saints beat the Panthers, 28-6. The Saints at the moment are 6-7 too, that means they’re tied atop the division with the Bucs and Falcons. Nevertheless, New Orleans is 2-2 in NFC South play, placing them beneath each Tampa Bay and Atlanta.
Which means, with 4 weeks to go, Todd Bowles and his group have management of their very own future.
Listed below are the up to date NFC South standings by means of Week 14:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-7 (3-1 within the NFC South)
Atlanta Falcons: 6-7 (3-1 within the NFC South)
New Orleans Saints: 6-7 (2-2 within the NFC South)
Carolina Panthers: 1-12 (0-4 within the NFC South)
Bucs Management Their Future For Now, However Want Their Finest Over Ultimate 4 Weeks
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA As we speak
Had the Bucs misplaced to the Falcons on Sunday, their hopes of profitable the division for a 3rd straight yr and making the playoffs for a fourth would’ve been successfully lifeless. They might’ve been 5-8 and two video games behind the Falcons. That will’ve meant needing to win out and get some assist elsewhere.
However now, with the win over Atlanta in Week 14, Tampa Bay controls its personal future. So, if the group takes care of enterprise over the ultimate 4 video games, it received’t have to fret about getting assist from different groups and hoping different divisional mates slip up. In fact, as shortly as they earned management of their very own playoff destiny on Sunday, they might simply as simply lose it inside per week.
The Bucs’ subsequent two weeks are certain to be difficult, as they’ll head as much as Lambeau Subject subsequent week to face the quickly bettering Jordan Love and his Packers group that has received three straight heading right into a Monday night time matchup towards the Giants. From there, Tampa Bay will return dwelling. Trevor Lawrence and the 8-5 Jaguars will await them on Christmas Eve. In order massive as Sunday’s win was, issues might in a short time flip for the Bucs in the event that they don’t have their finest down the stretch.
Managing a cut up of the following two video games would no less than give Tampa Bay an opportunity ultimately. The group can be 7-8 heading right into a New 12 months’s Eve dwelling recreation towards the Saints and an everyday season finale in Carolina towards the 1-win Panthers.
Issues change by the week on this mediocre and chaotic division, however in the meanwhile, the Bucs are in pole place.
Right here is how the schedule appears for the three groups contending atop the NFC South:
Bucs: at Packers (6-6)*, vs. Jaguars (8-5), vs. Saints (6-7), at Panthers (1-12)
Falcons: at Panthers (1-12), vs. Colts (7-6), at Chicago (5-8), at Saints (6-7)
Saints: vs. Giants (4-8)*, at Rams (6-7), at Tampa Bay (6-7), vs. Falcons (6-7)
*- Crew had not performed its Week 14 recreation at time of publication
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