While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got things back on track with a win over the Cardinals on Sunday, they failed to get some breathing room in the NFC South.
That's thanks to the Carolina Panthers notching another upset win over a playoff contender. In perhaps the signature win of Dave Canales' tenure as head coach, the Panthers upset the Rams in a win that shakes up the entire NFC playoff picture and keeps Carolina hot on Tampa Bay's heels.
Only a half-game separates the two teams, although that will likely grow to a full game with the Panthers on a bye next week. A perfect storm is brewing for the Bucs to squander the division lead, and spoil not only a 6-1 start but a streak that is five years in the making.
It's something that Baker Mayfield knows, and isn't about to let happen.
Baker Mayfield had a perfect reaction to Panthers upset win over Rams
After the win over Arizona, Baker was asked about the narrowing NFC South lead -- and the Panthers impressive upset over Los Angeles -- and put it about as perfectly as he could.
“In my mind, it’s playoff mentality from here on out," Baker said. "Theoretically, we are in control of our own destiny, but if we continue that mindset of a playoff push, things should take care of themselves. It’s not going to be easy, truly have to take it one game at a time, and now we have division opponents, so it's even more important."
He also stressed how the team needs to keep getting healthy but has to prepare like they did before Sunday in order to not get in their own way.
That's what this home stretch ultimately comes down to. While the Panthers have established themselves as legit contenders, the Buccaneers are still the better team.
Head-to-head, a team with players like Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Baker Mayfield should be better than one with Bryce Young, Rico Dowdle, and Tetairoa McMillan, but right now that doesn't feel like it's that case.
If the Bucs can stay out of their own way, there's no question who the best team in the NFC South is. Unfortunately, we've watched this team burp up all over themselves so many times this year that it is a question and one we won't have an answer to for a few weeks.
Tampa Bay and Carolina meet twice over the next five weeks, games that have become seismic thanks to how close things are. However, their first meeting isn't until December 21st, at which point the Bucs could have a full game lead on the Panthers after games against the Falcons and Saints.
It's a far tighter race than anyone would have liked, but for all the drama right now the Bucs could have a two game lead with two games left in the season if all goes well. Like Baker said, though, it's a playoff mentality or bust right now and the margin for error is gone for a team that needs to start playing like we know they can and not like they've been.