While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walked away with their first win in three weeks on Sunday, there's still a gentle hum of anxiety hanging over everything.
After getting thumped by the Rams last Sunday, the Bucs needed a fourth down stand to hold off the hapless Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile the Carolina Panthers pulled off one of the most surprising upsets of the season, adding to what has been a growing number of those for Dave Canales' team.
Carolina's win over the Rams not only tightens the NFC South race, but it shakes up the entire playoff picture. Los Angeles lost control of the No. 1 seed, which now belongs to Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears.
NFL Playoff Picture right now: Buccaneers hold onto a narrow NFC South lead after Week 13
Here's how things stack up in the NFC after Sunday's action:
Seed | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
No. 1 | Chicago Bears | 9-3 |
No. 2 | Los Angeles Rams | 9-3 |
No. 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | 8-4 |
No. 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7-5 |
No. 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 8-3 |
No. 6 | Green Bay Packers | 8-3-1 |
No. 7 | San Francisco 49ers | 8-4 |
If the playoffs started today -- which thankfully they do not -- the Bucs would be hosting the Seahawks in the Wild Card.
- (2) Los Angeles Rams vs. (7) Green Bay Packers
- (3) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (6) Green Bay Packers
- (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (5) Seattle Seahawks
Things are far from locked in, with the Bucs still in danger of falling out of the playoff picture entirely. Carolina's surge is real, as the Panthers beating the Rams on Sunday firmly established them as contenders.
A half-game is still all that separates the Bucs and Panthers, with two matchups between the teams on the schedule ahead. It's far from over in terms of the NFC South crown returning to Tampa Bay, which is perhaps the most annoying thing about Sunday.
There's no reason the Bucs should have been in a nail-biter against the Cardinals, and the fact that everyone needs to sweat about the 7-6 Panthers is embarrassing. Tampa Bay started the season 6-1 and is still on life support when it comes to playoff chances, but things could be about to turn around in a big way.
The schedule continues to loosen up over the next few weeks, and with Carolina on a bye next Sunday the lead in the NFC South for Tampa Bay could grow to a full game. Games against the Dolphins and Saints before meeting the Panthers for the first time could give the Bucs some much-needed breathing room over the next few weeks -- something they'll need as the race in the division and for a playoff spit continues to tighten.