The Tampa Bay Buccaneers saved their season on Saturday night.
By beating the Carolina Panthers, they kept themselves alive in the NFC South Division title race. But it's not over. It'll come down to a tiebreaker, which will be determined by the Saints-Falcons game on Sunday afternoon in Week 18.
It doesn't usually work like this, but that's just the way this division is meant to finish in a season when the champ will be 8-9.
MORE: Breaking down what NFL games matter today
Who do the Buccaneers need to win?
The Bucs need the Saints to win.
If that happens, it creates a two-team tiebreaker between the Bucs and Panthers. And the Buccaneers hold the common opponents record mark over the Panthers.
But if the Falcons win, they'll also be 8-9.
That would create a three-time tiebreaker between the Falcons, Panthers and Buccaneers. In that case, it goes into a three-team mini-series between the trio. And the Panthers would win that tiebreaker and thus the division.
More NFL news:
- Drake Maye has one issue that could stop Patriots from winning Super Bowl
- Myles Garrett is full of irony after major contract decision, critical comments
- This viral Josh Allen highlight from Wyoming is crazy
- Philip Rivers' future takes shape after comeback
- Taysom Hill, older than you think, might be nearing his NFL end
- Travis Kelce's retirement takes the spotlight in Week 18