In Week 17, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers missed a key opportunity. With the NFC South still up for grabs, the team failed to regroup and ultimately lost to the Miami Dolphins 20-17.
If they lose this game, the Buccaneers could be eliminated from the playoffs. But luckily for the team, the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers to set up a crucial game in Week 18. Depending on how the Atlanta Falcons fare against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, the winner of the Week 18 Buccaneers-Panthers game could decide the NFC South championship.
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The Buccaneers would have been in a better position had they beaten the Dolphins in Week 17. Tampa Bay has at least one major advantage going into the game as rookie Quinn Ewers makes his first NFL start.
Ewers was outstanding, scoring two touchdowns in the game. His counterpart, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, struggled, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in the loss.
It was a disappointing performance for the Buccaneers, and wide receiver Mike Evans didn’t sugarcoat it after the game. Evans tells reporters team ‘doesn’t deserve it’ [a win]” In Week 17, NFL.com reported, the Buccaneers played like a team that didn’t want to be there.
“We didn’t deserve it,” said wide receiver Mike Evans, who caught three of seven targets for 31 yards and a touchdown. “They’re playing like they have a chance in the playoffs and we’re playing like we’re ready to go home.”
Evans didn’t perform well in the loss, although he wasn’t part of the problem. Evans finished the game with three catches for 31 yards and a score. He was overshadowed by Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan, both of whom added over 100 receiving yards on the day.
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It wasn’t all gloom and doom in the Buccaneers’ locker room after the loss, though. Quarterback Baker Mayfield took a different approach, saying the team needed to take advantage of the opportunity the Panthers had after losing to the Seahawks, ESPN reported.
“Here’s the thing,” Mayfield said after the loss, via The Associated Press . “We still have a chance next week. We’re lucky to have a chance next week and guys need to handle it the right way. Lavonte (David) spoke to the team after the game and hit the nail on the head, so we have to respond.”
The Buccaneers’ Week 18 game against the Panthers has the potential to end up being a winner-take-all game. For the Panthers, that was enough. A win would give Carolina the NFC South crown and a spot in the playoffs.
The Buccaneers’ fate depends on the Falcons. If the Buccaneers, Falcons and Panthers have the same record, the Panthers will win the division title based on a tiebreaker. If the Falcons can beat the Rams in Week 17, the Buccaneers could beat the Panthers in Week 18, and if the Falcons also win in Week 18, Tampa Bay will miss the playoffs.
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If the Falcons lose to the Rams on Monday, the Week 18 matchup between the Buccaneers and Panthers will be a winner-take-all matchup.
Despite the Buccaneers’ poor performance on Sunday, the team still has a chance to win the division title. But that will only happen if the team finds the momentum it lacked in Week 17.
