Where Panthers, Bucs sit in NFC South, playoff picture after Week 17 games

Dharya Sharma

Where Panthers, Bucs sit in NFC South, playoff picture after Week 17 games image

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell in their Week 17 games, as the Panthers lost to the Seattle Seahawks, while the Buccaneers were defeated by the Miami Dolphins.

Tampa Bay and Carolina have been the top two teams in the NFC South for almost two months. However, neither has been able to separate itself from the other, so the division will now come down to Week 18.

NFC South standings

1. Carolina Panthers (8-8)

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

3. Atlanta Falcons (6-9, will play Los Angeles Rams in Week 17)

4. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

It will all come down to the final week. The Panthers and Bucs will meet for a Week 18 matchup at Raymond James Stadium, and the winner of that game will be the NFC South champion.

Next week's game between Carolina and Tampa Bay will also solidify the NFC playoff picture.

NFC playoff picture

The winner of Panthers versus Bucs in Week 18 will be the No. 4 seed in the NFC. That means the winner will get a home playoff game in the wild-card round.

More NFL News

Contributing Writer