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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept their season alive with a 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Saturday. Now the NFC South title will be determined in Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints, who have long been eliminated from playoff contention.
Carolina had a chance to clinch the division with a win over Tampa Bay, but now the Panthers must rely on the Falcons to beat the Saints and preserve the division lead via tiebreakers.
If the Saints win, Tampa Bay will take the division by virtue of the tiebreaker.
The Buccaneers are hoping for their fifth straight division title, while the Panthers are hoping for their first division title since coach Ron Rivera and quarterback Cam Newton led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance since 2015. Every other NFC South team has won the division at least once since Carolina’s last division title.
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Lavonte David (54) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Carolina’s hope of clinching that title Saturday ended when Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Cade Otton and Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals to earn the two-point victory, leaving the Panthers with almost no time to win the game on the final drive.
After McLaughlin’s 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked with just over five minutes left, Carolina pulled within 16-14 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Young to Jalen Coker with 2:27 left.
Mayfield threw a short pass to Otton for 20 yard gain on third and 4 to extend Tampa Bay’s drive and run more time. The Panthers got the ball back at their 3-yard line with 18 seconds and no timeouts. The game ended in a series of desperate laterals that resulted in a fumble.
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Bucky Irving (7) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Mayfield connected with Otton on an 18-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead as the Bucs scored a touchdown on their first drive for the third straight game. It was Otton’s first touchdown of the season.
Down 10-0, the Panthers turned Christian Rozeboom’s interception into a quick score. Rozeboom returned the pick 20 yards to Tampa Bay’s 19. Young then connected with Tommy Tremble on an 8-yard touchdown pass to cut the score to 10-7.
Jacob Parrish intercepted Young late in the second half and the Buccaneers got a 36-yard field goal from McLaughlin to take a 13-7 halftime lead.
McLaughlin kicked a 48-yard field goal early in the quarter to extend Tampa Bay’s lead.
Carolina’s Ryan Fitzgerald missed a 54-yard score on the first drive of the third quarter.
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Christian Izien (29) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Mayfield completed his first six passes before failing on a 13-yard cross-field throw to Payne Durham, who was wide open in the end zone. The Bucs settled for McLaughlin’s 29-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.
