The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one game away from finishing off an epic collapse and entering an offseason of uncertainty.
The Carolina Panthers are closing in on their first playoff berth in eight years.
Two teams heading in opposite directions battle for the NFC South title on Saturday. But this isn’t a winner-take-all game.
The Panthers (8-8) can still clinch the division title with a loss because the Buccaneers (7-9) have to win and the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) must lose or tie the New Orleans Saints (6-10) for Tampa Bay to get in.
“First and foremost, we have to win on Saturday, so that’s the main focus,” Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “[We] can’t management what occurs within the sport Sunday, however we will management how Saturday goes, how we put together. … The objective continues to be to go on the market and try to discover a option to win. Clearly, then play the ready sport, however we’ve to handle our enterprise and that’s successful on Saturday.”
If the Panthers win, they’ll earn their first division crown since Ron Rivera and Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 report and a Tremendous Bowl look 10 years in the past.
Carolina has gone by means of three teaching modifications and began 10 totally different quarterbacks since their wild-card berth in 2017.
Dave Canales took over as head coach in 2024 after one season because the offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers, the place he helped Mayfield revive his profession. He’s turned the Panthers round and Bryce Younger continues to be creating in his third season since he was the No. 1 general decide in 2023.
Bowles’ future
The Buccaneers have misplaced seven of eight and eight of 10. Most organizations would make important modifications after freefalling. Todd Bowles has led the workforce to a few division titles in his first three seasons, however is 1-3 within the playoffs.
He’s signed by means of 2028, in order that helps his case. It additionally wasn’t Bowles’ fault the Bucs lacked expertise on protection and endured a number of accidents to key gamers.
Working Panthers
A powerful working sport helped propel Carolina into the playoff hunt earlier within the season and took some stress off Younger.
Rico Dowdle mixed for 389 yards dashing in wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins in Weeks 5 and 6, however has solely surpassed 80 yards dashing as soon as since.
The Panthers are averaging 31.8 dashing makes an attempt of their eight wins, however solely 24.1 makes an attempt of their eight losses.
“Good issues occur while you run the ball; you run the ball when good issues occur,” Canales mentioned. “It really works each methods, and it’s part of who we’re.”
Dowdle was listed on the workforce’s harm report early within the week with a toe harm, however mentioned it’s not a problem, and he’ll be positive to play.
The Bucs are seventh in opposition to the run, although they haven’t carried out something properly on protection currently.
Rico Dowdle has surpassed 1,000 dashing yards in back-to-back seasons. (Picture by David Jensen/Getty Pictures)
Carolina sneak
It’s not fairly the Philadelphia Eagles’ model of the “tush push,” however the Panthers started using their very own short-yardage play final week in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks by motioning backup tight finish Mitchell Evans underneath heart to take a quarterback sneak on a fourth down try.
Offensive coordinator Brad Idzik wouldn’t name it a tush push, joking that “we didn’t push the tush.”
However it’s one thing the Panthers have been engaged on as a result of they don’t really feel snug utilizing the undersized Younger in these conditions.
Motion Jackson
Opposing groups are likely to draw back from throwing at Panthers two-time Professional Bowl decide Jaycee Horn, which suggests fellow cornerback Mike Jackson has seen loads of motion this season.
And he’s been up for the problem.
Jackson leads the league with 19 passes defensed — one shy of the franchise report — and had an interception final week in opposition to Sam Darnold.
“We’ve been so blessed with the best way Mike has actually performed these previous few years and definitely exceeded the expectations of lots of people, however didn’t exceed his expectations,” defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero mentioned. “Once you take a look at the best way he prepares, the additional time he spent with coach [Jonathan] Cooley within the assembly rooms, this man is as dialed-in a participant as I’ve ever been round in that place.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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