The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be squaring off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 18 in a game that could determine the NFC South.
We say "could" because the Buccaneers are not guaranteed to make the postseason even if they defeat Carolina on Saturday.
The reason is a three-way tie for first place in the division is still possible, and in the event that happens, it would benefit Carolina.
Even though they have been eliminated from playoff contention for weeks now, the Atlanta Falcons can still finish with the same record as the Bucs and Panthers.
That will happen if the Falcons win their last two games, including the Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Rams and the Week 18 contest against the New Orleans Saints, and the Bucs defeat the Panthers this coming Saturday.
In the event of a three-way tie in the NFC South, the tie-breaker would be win percentage in head-to-head matchups, which Carolina would own.
So, if the Falcons win their last two games and the Buccaneers beat the Panthers in Week 18, Carolina would still win the division and make the postseason.
The good news for the Buccaneers is that the Falcons close out their season with two tough matchups and all they need is for Atlanta to lose one of them.
The Rams are one of the elite teams in the NFL and the Saints are surging thanks to standout rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
But if the Falcons win on Monday night and the Buccaneers take care of business on Saturday, Tampa Bay will still have to scoreboard watch on Sunday.
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