The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have somehow found themselves in a position where, if they win their regular season finale against the Carolina Panthers then they’re likely in the NFC Playoffs for a sixth consecutive season and NFC South Division champions for a fourth straight year.
That’s despite Tampa Bay being 7-9 overall and losers of 7 of their last 8 games, including a deflating, 20-17 road loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.
We now know when that ultra-high stakes Buccaneers-Panthers showdown will be, with the NFL announcing a 4:30 p.m. EST kickoff time for the game on Saturday, January 3, with the game broadcast on ABC/ESPN.
There is still an outside chance the Buccaneers could win and still not make the playoffs. In that scenario, the Atlanta Falcons would have to defeat the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football in Week 17 then defeat the New Orleans Saints in the Week 18 regular season finale.
In that scenario, the Panthers would win the NFC South even if they lost to the Buccaneers because of a 3-way tiebreaker that goes to the Panthers because they swept the Falcons in the regular season and the Buccaneers split with the Falcons.
Playoffs … But Not Regular Season Success
If the Buccaneers do make the playoffs this season, it will be the second time in the last 4 seasons they’ve made the playoffs with a losing record â Tampa Bay won the NFC South with an 8-9 record in 2022 in quarterback Tom Brady’s final NFL season.
The Buccaneers set a franchise record with a 13-4 regular season record in 2021, when they lost in the NFC Divisional Round.
In 2023, the first year with quarterback Baker Mayfield as the starter, Tampa Bay went 9-8 and advanced to the NFC Divisional Round after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The Buccaneers were 6-7 last season before reeling off 4 consecutive wins to end the regular season but were upset by the Washington Commanders at home in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Bigger Surprise: Todd Bowles Could Keep Job
Perhaps the biggest surprise from Week 17 was a report from the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that embattled Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles wasn’t in danger of losing his job despite his team’s absolute meltdown the last few months.
âThis has led to some questions about head coach Todd Bowles,â Rapoport said on Sunday, December 28. âSo, let me answer some questions before they begin. Todd Bowles received a 3-year contract extension before the season. He is under contract through 2028. They have won three straight division titles and still have the possibility of winning a fourth. Does that sound like someone who would be in danger of losing their job? I would say: Certainly not.â
Headed into Week 18, Bowles is 60-74 overall in 9 season as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, where he was an interim coach at the end of one season, the New York Jets and Buccaneers.
Since Week 9, when the Buccaneers were 6-2, Tampa Bay is last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (257), 29th in total yards per game (368) and 28th in points allowed per game (28.4).
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post NFL Announces Kickoff Time for Bucs-Panthers NFC South Showdown appeared first on Heavy Sports.