Why Buccaneers can still lose NFC South Division with a win over Panthers because of Falcons

6 days ago 2

Why Buccaneers can still lose NFC South Division with a win over Panthers because of Falcons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Things are simple for the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. Win (or tie) and into the playoffs.

It's more complex for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they try to claim the NFC South Division crown.

The Bucs could beat the Panthers and still lose the division, thanks to the Atlanta Falcons.

The reason Atlanta matters is that if the Panthers lose and Buccaneers win, they're both 8-9. And if the Falcons win Sunday against the Saints, they'd be 8-9, too.

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Atlanta making the top of the division a three-way tie would enact a head-to-head mini series set of tiebreakers. The Panthers win that tiebreaker, and would thus win the division even after the loss to Tampa Bay.

If the Falcons lose, though, Carolina would drop the two-team tiebreaker to the Buccaneers, which is just record versus common opponents, in which Tampa Bay has the edge.

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The Falcons won't have an easy path to a win Sunday. The Saints are red hot with rookie QB Tyler Shough.

Carolina would remove any suspense by winning on Saturday to finish the season 9-8 and clear of all competitors.

But if the Buccaneers win, that Saints-Falcons game, between two eliminated teams, will decide the division champion.