There’s an 83% likelihood that Tampa Bay goes to win the division and go to the playoffs; solely the New Orleans Saints stand of their method. For the second time this season, Atlanta misplaced management of its future and allowed a workforce they swept to manage their destiny.
Right here’s the Week 17 NFC South Assessment.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Week 17 Consequence: Buccaneers 48 – Panthers 14
Week 18 Opponent: New Orleans Saints
Baker Mayfield threw 5 touchdowns and left all of it on the sector within the Buccaneers’ convincing victory over their division opponent. Tampa Bay has had a unstable season, however they’ve come out stronger on the opposite aspect and look able to compete within the playoffs.
The workforce can’t get too forward of itself. A loss this weekend would open the door for the Falcons, who’re nipping on the workforce’s heels on the end line. If they’ll handle enterprise, this would be the fourth 12 months in a row that Tampa Bay has received the NFC South, making it probably the most dominant streak within the division’s historical past.
New Orleans Saints (5-11)
Week 17 Consequence: Saints 10 – Raiders 25
Week 18 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The New Orleans Saints adopted up their zero-point efficiency with a loss to the Raiders. The interim head coach enhance has been on life help for weeks–this workforce is cooked.
It’s anybody’s guess what the Saints will do that offseason. There are few choices at quarterback, and none will fall to the Saints draft decide. Bloated offers and cap gymnastics have caught as much as the workforce. Earlier than they’ll take into consideration any of this, they’ll must survive their sport towards the anticipated division winners.
Carolina Panthers (4-12)
Week 17 Consequence: Panthers 14 – Buccaneers 48
Week 18 Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
The Panthers couldn’t make life simpler for the Falcons because the Buccaneers had been in a position to run away with this win. Bryce Younger has produced a few highlights each week, however the whole physique of labor continues to be unimpressive, and never one franchises prefer to guess on the longer term.
Alternatively, the workforce doesn’t actually have a alternative, as this upcoming quarterback market is slim pickings. The Panthers nonetheless doubled their win whole from a 12 months in the past, they usually’ll face a workforce they seemingly at all times handle to beat a minimum of every year.
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Week 17 Consequence: Falcons 24 – Commanders 30
Week 18 Opponent: Carolina Panthers
They blew it (once more). It’s been the season of second possibilities for Atlanta, a second likelihood for Terry Fontenot to execute a quarterback transition, a second likelihood for Kirk Cousins to show he’s a playoff quarterback, a second likelihood for Raheem Morris to show he’s head coach materials. There was even a second likelihood for the workforce to manage its future to the playoffs.
Everybody squandered their alternatives, and the Falcons are staring down the barrel of yet one more disappointing season. The Falcons had however a handful of convincing wins this 12 months, as most had been heart-attack-inducing. Margins are at all times skinny on this league, however the lack of competent teaching and play was a theme that grew to become unimaginable to disregard. There’s nonetheless a tiny likelihood that the Falcons might fall into the playoffs, however there’s additionally an opportunity they end with their seventh dropping report in a row to associate with their playoff drought.
The NFC South is the premier division for chaos and leisure. The product is unmatched, and even the dropping franchises can get in on the enjoyable. There’s just one week left within the common season, can Tampa Bay end the job?
