Who holds Bucs-Panthers tiebreaker? Explaining NFC South Division playoff scenarios

Billy Heyen

Who holds Bucs-Panthers tiebreaker? Explaining NFC South Division playoff scenarios image

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers still have everything to play for in the NFC South Division.

They haven't played yet this season, but tied atop the division, that finally changes in Week 16 when the pair of 7-7 teams meet up.

They'll also play in Week 18.

There's a scenario, though, where they split those two contests and have the same result in Week 17 (Panthers vs. Seahawks, Bucs at Dolphins).

If that happens, then a tiebreaker will come into play. In this case, it'd be winning percentage against common opponents.

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Who has Buccaneers-Panthers tiebreaker?

Through 15 weeks, the Bucs hold the tiebreaker over the Panthers based on winning percentage against common opponents, according to ESPN.

This will be a moot point if one of these teams wins both of their matchups in Week 16 and 18. That would make it impossible for the other to catch up.

But if they split those games, and if Week 17 goes the same direction for both teams, then it'll go further down the tiebreaker chart.

And if that happens, it'll be the Bucs who go into the playoffs and the Panthers who go home. That makes beating the Buccaneers in Week 16, and taking care of business in Week 17, even more important for a Carolina team trying to shock everyone and make the postseason.

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Senior Editor