The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have three games remaining, and two of them are huge — they need to beat the Carolina Panthers at least once to maintain their division

The Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have entered Week 16 all knotted up atop the NFC South. And with three games remaining, the former has a chance to dethrone the latter from their four-year reign over the division.

The 7-7 Carolina Panthers, with today’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, are tied again with the 7-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Technically, they are second in the NFC South. They have multiple paths to the NFC South title from here and are still, very barely, in control of their own destiny.

It’s down to the nitty gritty when it comes to the 2025 NFL postseason. The hard-to-figure Panthers have a chance to win their first division title since 2015.

How well the Panthers will be able to contain Bucs WR Mike Evans may determine the outcome of Sunday's big NFC South showdown.

The Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks can finally mark their calendars. The NFL has finalized its schedule for Week 17.