When the NFL launched the 2023 common season schedule, it left the Week 18 slate stuffed with “TBAs,” leaving flexibility to schedule video games with larger stakes in higher timeslots because the common season got here to an in depth over the course of Saturday and Sunday. With Week 17 within the books, the league introduced subsequent week’s schedule, which means the Bucs have the kickoff time for his or her season finale towards the Panthers in Charlotte.
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA At the moment
After failing to clinch the NFC South in Week 17, Tampa Bay can have one other win-and-in state of affairs in Week 18. That recreation at Carolina is about for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff subsequent Sunday, Jan. 7.
With the NFC South race nonetheless undecided, the Bucs’ Week 18 recreation now has playoff implications. Tampa Bay wants a win over Carolina to win the division and lock itself into the NFC’s No. 4 seed. Tampa Bay would then host the No. 5 seed — both the Cowboys or Eagles — on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend in two weeks.
However with a loss by the Bucs, the winner of the sport between the Saints and Falcons in New Orleans will win the division. That recreation will even kick off at 1:00 p.m. subsequent Sunday. So, by the top of the early window, the NFC South can have been determined.
Tampa Bay’s recreation at Carolina might be televised by FOX, whereas Atlanta’s recreation at New Orleans might be a CBS recreation.
Bucs Will Look To Wrap Up The NFC South On The Season’s Remaining Day
Saints TE Taysom Hill and Bucs S Antoine Winfield Jr. – Photograph by: USA At the moment
The Bucs missed a possibility in Week 17, as they might’ve wrapped up an NFC South three-peat by beating the Saints at dwelling. The crew got here out flat, falling behind 17-0 within the first half and by no means recovering. In loads of methods, Tampa Bay didn’t appear to be a crew taking part in for the division title. It seemed like a crew going by way of the motions on the finish of a 4-13 or 5-12 season.
“Very disappointing,” Bucs linebacker and longtime captain Lavonte David mentioned. “It was like we didn’t know what was at stake. We got here out very flat on either side of the ball. It’s one thing that we’ve obtained to take to the chin. They got here out and beat us. We’ve positively obtained to get higher. Be taught from it and get higher subsequent week.”
The Bucs trailed 17-0 at halftime and solely had 44 whole yards, prompting left deal with and first-time captain Tristan Wirfs to talk within the locker room earlier than the crew went out for the third quarter. The speech could not have led to a rally, however the sentiments nonetheless rang true after the sport. And the Bucs can be clever to heed Wirfs’ phrases as they put together for Week 18.
“This was a division recreation, this was for a 3rd straight division title,” Wirfs mentioned. “We got here out trying like that. I mentioned that’s unacceptable. We’ve obtained to do one thing totally different. Subsequent week’s for the marbles. There’s no “subsequent week” [after that], so we’ve to place it behind us, we’ve to maneuver ahead, sit up for subsequent week and do the perfect we are able to to come back dwelling with a hat and t-shirt.”
Bucs FS Antoine Winfield Jr. and Panthers QB Bryce Younger – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Every part from Sunday will largely be forgiven if the Bucs exit and beat the Panthers of their common season finale. However the stress is on Tampa Bay, and the crew might want to play a greater, extra full recreation than it did the primary time round towards Carolina. The crew’s four-game profitable streak in December started with a 21-18 dwelling win over the Panthers, however it was an uninspired win virtually the entire means.
The one-game-at-a-time mentality that Tampa Bay used to interrupt off these 4 consecutive wins will actually be key for this remaining recreation towards the Panthers. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield mentioned as a lot after Sunday’s recreation.
“Similar factor. One-game-at-a-time mentality. It doesn’t change for us,” Mayfield mentioned. “We’ve obtained to win this subsequent recreation in Carolina to win the division and go from there. All you want is to get an opportunity to get in and we’re nonetheless sitting proper the place we have to be. Clearly, would’ve liked to have achieved it in the present day with two video games left, however it didn’t occur. SO, one-game mentality and our season is on the road.”
Tampa Bay might be trying to sweep the season sequence with Carolina for the third time in 4 seasons, clinch the NFC South for the third straight yr and wrap up its fourth consecutive playoff look. It’s all on the road in Week 18.
