Updated Buccaneers Playoff Scenario After Falcons Upset Rams

The Atlanta Falcons (7-9) stunned the NFL world as they pulled off the 27-24 upset of the Los Angeles Rams (11-5).

This was a result the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) did not want to see because now the path to the playoffs for the Buccaneers just got even murkier.

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With the Falcons win, the Buccaneers now need to defeat the Carolina Panthers (8-8) on Saturday and also get help from the New Orleans Saints on Sunday if they want to salvage this season and win the NFC South for a fifth consecutive season.

Even if the Buccaneers defeat the Panthers, a win by the Falcons on Sunday would create a three-way tie at 8-9 atop the NFC South.

In that case, the tiebreaker would favor the Panthers thanks to their 3-1 record against the Buccaneers and Falcons. Tampa will be 2-2 in this scenario and Atlanta would be 1-3.

Had the Falcons lost Monday, the Buccaneers would have only needed a win Saturday, as the game would have been winner-take-all.

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The Rams almost completed the comeback. After being down 24-3, the Rams rallied to tie the game at 24-24, a run that included a blocked field goal for a touchdown by Rams edge rusher Jared Verse, who gave the peace sign to the Falcons’ sideline on his way to the end zone.

Regardless, it’s a must-win situation for the Buccaneers on Saturday. A loss sends the Panthers to the playoffs.

The difference now is that just winning on Saturday is no longer enough for Tampa Bay. They now will also need to do some scoreboard watching on Sunday and hope the results fall in their favor via the Saints.

The Saints will look to avenge their 24-10 home loss to the Falcons on November 23. Tampa will hope revenge is served with some po’ boys on Sunday if they get the victory first on Saturday.

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If Tampa Bay is able to claim the division crown, it would mark the second time in this active stretch of division titles that they will have won with an 8-9 record.

They also did so in 2022. They would go on to lose to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round that season. Should Tampa get to the playoffs this season, they’ll begin their playoff run against whoever finishes in second place in the NFC West.

Nothing has been easy for the Buccaneers during this 2025 season and now the road just got that much tougher.