TAMPA, Fla. — An Unlikely NFC South Champion Emerges

It’s strange, really. The NFC South champion is set to have a losing record and will be crowned while watching the action unfold on their couch.

Baker Mayfield found Cade Otton for a touchdown, while Chase McLaughlin added three field goals, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were unable to stave off elimination after a 16-14 loss to the Carolina Panthers in wet conditions.

To snag their fifth consecutive NFC South title, the Buccaneers (8-9) need the New Orleans Saints (6-10) to either beat or tie the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) during their game on Sunday.

If Atlanta wins, it would mean the Panthers (8-9) clinch their first Division I title since a memorable season with coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton, who led them to a Super Bowl just a decade ago. It’s kind of wild to think about.

So, while the Buccaneers technically won a tiebreaker against the Panthers, there’s still that lingering possibility. Should the Falcons also finish at 8-9, Carolina will hold the three-team tiebreaker against Tampa Bay.

It’s worth noting that prior to their October clash, Mayfield didn’t hold back his feelings towards the Saints, saying, “I don’t like them.” Now, he and the Buccaneers are left to bank on the Saints performing well on Sunday.

Interestingly, Tampa Bay had never managed a win when Mayfield threw an interception in his last eight games—until they encountered a team boasting the No. 9 draft pick.

In a critical moment, with McLaughlin’s 38-yard field goal attempt blocked, Carolina managed to narrow the score to 16-14 through an 8-yard TD pass from Bryce Young to Jalen Coker, just 2:27 before the game concluded.

Mayfield had earlier connected with Otton for an 18-yard TD, marking the Bucs’ third straight successful opening drive to lead 7-0. It was Otton’s first touchdown catch of the season, which must have felt great for him.

Down 10-0, the Panthers converted a swift interception from Christian Roseboom into a quick score, with Young throwing an 8-yard pass to Tommy Tremble, bringing the score to 10-7.

A late first-half interception by Jacob Parrish led the Buccaneers to a 36-yard field goal from McLaughlin, finishing the half with a 13-7 advantage.

McLaughlin added another from 48 yards early in the fourth quarter to boost Tampa Bay’s lead further.

On the other side, Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald couldn’t capitalize on a 54-yard drive, which resulted in a missed kick in the third quarter.

An Era Coming to a Close

In a related note, Gene Deckerhoff, the longtime radio voice of the Buccaneers, will retire at season’s end. Then there’s the possibility that both Mike Evans, a six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, and veteran linebacker Lavonte David may also be playing their last games for Tampa Bay. Just a thought, but it does feel like a significant moment.

David, who was a second-round pick in 2012, boasts a Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades, and Evans, drafted seventh overall in 2014, had a consistent record of 1,000-yard seasons until injury derailed him this past year.

Injury Updates

Panthers: Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III left the game for concussion evaluations.

Buccaneers: Linebacker Anthony Walker was injured during the opening kickoff. Defensive back Jamel Dean (shoulder) and linebacker Anthony Nelson (knee) didn’t play, while defensive tackle Kariya Kanshi was active for the first time since Week 2.

What Lies Ahead

Panthers: They’ll either host a wild card game or begin their offseason.

Buccaneers: Same goes for them; it’s either the postseason or an early start to the offseason.