The Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrated their 16-14 win over the Carolina Panthers, but they couldn't celebrate too hard.
Normally, the Buccaneers would have won the division, but such has been the oddity of the 2025 season that Tampa Bay needs the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons to secure its playoff passage.
So, no hats and t-shirt game for Tampa Bay at home in Week 18.
That can be frustrating, but for head coach Todd Bowles, his team has no one to blame but themselves.
“We put ourselves in this situation,” Bowles said. “We're all grown men about it, and we could have made a ton of plays, but we can't look back and dwell on it. We just got to move forward, and then they showed fight, and they showed grit. So, we'll just see what happens.”
More: Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield makes Week 18 feelings clear
Bucs win too little, too late?
It certainly feels like it.
Before the Week 18 win, the Buccaneers had lost seven of their last eight games, and had the team won just one of them, Tampa Bay would now be NFC South champs.
Now, they are relegated to cheering on the Saints against the Falcons.
But as Bowles said, his team made their bed in 2025; now they have to lie in it.
They had ample opportunities over the past two months, but couldn't take them. Now, it is out of their hands.
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