The Buccaneers’ entire 2025 season was riding on Saturday’s matchup against the Panthers. And now it’s riding entirely on the Atlanta Falcons losing to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The Bucs had lost four in a row, with consecutive losses to the Saints, Falcons, Panthers, and Dolphins, while the Panthers were fresh off a 27-10 whooping by the Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs hosted the matchup, and oddsmakers had them set as standard home favorites in Saturday’s NFC South clash. The Buccaneers won a close one, 16-14, to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
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It was a win or go home situation, since the Bucs’ losing streak had them leveled up with the third-place, eliminated Atlanta Falcons at 7-9 heading into Week 18. For the Buccaneers to sew up that last division winner playoff spot in the NFC, not only did they need to beat the Panthers, but they need the Falcons to lose to the Saints — and now that’s what it all comes down to. Atlanta’s head coach Raheem Morris is fighting to keep his job, so the Falcons will be playing to win. Can they do it? It’s the Falcons, so who knows? Until we know for sure, the Bucs are penciled into the No. 4 seed in the NFC, and the Panthers are currently on the outside looking in.
Here are the updated NFC South standings and the NFC playoff picture after Saturday’s win over the Panthers.
Updated NFC South standingsUpdated NFC playoff picture
1. Seattle Seahawks 13-3 (clinched playoff berth)
2. Chicago Bears 11-4 (clinched NFC North)
3. Philadelphia Eagles 10-5 (clinched NFC East)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-9
5. San Francisco 49ers 11-4 (clinched playoff berth)
6. Los Angles Rams 11-4 (clinched playoff berth)
7. Green Bay Packers 9-6-1 (clinched Wild Card spot)
11. Carolina Panthers 8-9