NFC South standings: How Buccaneers loss to Saints impacts divisional race with Panthers in Week 14
Someone is going to win the NFC South, and it looks like the divisional race is going to come down to the wire.
The Carolina Panthers had a late bye week and were off in Week 14, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons were all in action. The Buccaneers and the Saints played each other, while the Falcons hosted the Seattle Seahawks.
Tampa Bay was in the driver’s seat for the NFC South title. Carolina had already lost to New Orleans earlier in the season. But the Buccaneers couldn’t take care of business, and Saints quarterback Tyler Shough led his team to a huge divisional win, despite already being eliminated from playoff contention.
The Falcons went into halftime tied with the Seahawks, but Seattle put the pedal to the metal. The Seahawks blew the Falcons out, winning 37-9.
Here is more on how the Buccaneers’ loss to the Saints impacts the NFC South divisional race in Week 14.
MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures in Week 14
NFC South standings
TeamRecordBuccaneers7-6Panthers7-6Falcons4-9 — eSaints3-10 — e
The NFC South has another tie atop the division. With the loss, the Buccaneers match the Panthers’ record, who could benefit from being on bye. Tampa Bay currently has the tiebreaker in its favor. The Buccaneers and Panthers haven’t played each other yet, so the tiebreaker rules then go best record in divisional games. Both teams are 2-1 currently in the NFC South. The third tiebreaker is record in common games, which favors Tampa Bay this week.
While it may seem obvious to say the division will be decided in the final three weeks of the regular season, the reasoning is simple. The Buccaneers and Panthers play each other twice in the final three weeks of the season. Their second matchup comes in Week 18, and the division title itself and the playoff berth could be on the line.
It is a two-team race in the South as the Falcons have officially been eliminated from playoff contention.
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Buccaneers upcoming schedule
WeekOpponent15vs. Falcons (TNF)16at Panthers17at Dolphins18vs. Panthers
Panthers upcoming schedule
WeekOpponent15at Saints16vs. Buccaneers17vs. Seahawks18at Buccaneers
Falcons upcoming schedule
WeekOpponent15at Buccaneers (TNF)16at Cardinals17vs. Rams (MNF)18vs. Saints
Saints upcoming schedule
WeekOpponent15vs. Panthers16vs. Jets17at Titans18at Falcons
