The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have frittered away a huge opportunity in 2025, but they can still secure a playoff berth in Week 18. However, they will need a win and some help.
Ten weeks ago, the Bucs beat the Saints 23-3 in New Orleans to head into their Week 9 bye with a 6-2 record and a two-game lead on the Panthers in the division. Since then, the Bucs have gone 1-7 and head into their season finale against the Panthers with a 7-9 record and sitting a game back of them in the standings.
Tampa is a field goal home favorite in this matchup. It kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff berth clinching scenarios
While the Panthers clinch with a win, the Bucs need a win and some help from an unlikely source. If the Panthers beat the Bucs, they will finish the season two games up and the clear winner of the division. If the Bucs beat the Panthers, Tampa and Carolina would be tied for first. If the Falcons lose on Sunday against the Saints, the Bucs would win the tiebreaker against the Panthers due to their record in common games. They tied the head-to-head series and would have the same division record, so it would go to common games, which Tampa leads.
However, if the Falcons beat the Saints, there would be a three-way tie for first place in the NFC South. When three or more teams are tied in the division, the first tiebreaker is best head-to-head record in games among all the clubs. In this case, the Panthers would be 3-1 with two wins over the Falcons and one over the Bucs, the Bucs would be 2-2 with splits against both teams, and the Falcons would be 1-3. That means Carolina would win the division without going further down the list of tiebreakers.
The Falcons are a 3.5-point home favorite against the Saints.
NFC standings entering Week 18
Here are the full NFC standings ahead of the weekend:
x – Team has clinched a playoff spot
y – Team has clinched their division title
e – Team has been eliminated from playoff contention
NFC South standings entering Week 18
Here are the full NFC South standings:
