The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need some help in order to secure the NFC South crown in Week 18.
The Bucs did their part by defeating the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, but now the Bucs need the New Orleans Saints to beat the Atlanta Falcons in order to avoid a three-way tie for first place that would favor the Panthers.
On Sunday morning, the Falcons announced that quarterback Kirk Cousins has come down with an illness, although he does not have a game designation and will play.
"QB Kirk Cousins and DL David Onyemata woke up this morning ill but will not have game designations and will play today vs. The Saints," Tori McElhaney of AtlantaFalcons.com reported.
Of course, Cousins still playing isn't good news for the Bucs' playoff hopes, but given the fact that he's ill, the Falcons signal-caller might not be operating at 100% on Sunday, which increases New Orleans' chances of winning.
On the flip side, this is obviously bad news for the Panthers, who need Cousins and the Falcons to defeat the Saints.
No matter the result of Saints-Falcons on Sunday, the Bucs or Panthers will only have themselves to blame if they miss the playoffs.
The NFC South has been ripe for the taking all season long, yet both teams failed to seize the opportunity and have no left their fates in the hands of two division rivals.
Considering the history of the division, it isn't all that surprising this is how things shook out.
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