The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, 20-17, and despite it being the team's seventh defeat in the last eight weeks, the prospect of a fifth straight NFC South title still exists. And it's not a particularly convoluted exercise; as long as Atlanta loses at least one of its next two games – the Falcons play at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night – the winner of the Buccaneers' Week 18 showdown with the Carolina Panthers will be division champs.
This wasn't exactly comfort to the losing locker room on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, as the Buccaneers had hoped to take care of their own business rather than backing into a last-ditch shot when the Seattle Seahawks beat the Panthers, 27-10. Essentially, the Buccaneers have had every opportunity to lock down a fifth consecutive NFC South title since they came out of their Week Nine bye with a 6-2 record but have so far failed to do so. Even so, they will play host to the Panthers in Week 18 with that division title on the line.
"This is our last chance and it's blatantly obvious," said Mayfield. "There are no more regular season games on the schedule. We have this one back at home and it comes down to execution. Xs and Os, it felt like we had a good plan going into it [against Miami], and players have to deliver."
After the game in Miami, Head Coach Todd Bowles bemoaned the team's recent inability to take good midweek work into the minutes that count on game day. That will be the goal in Week 18, with everything on the line.
"Just true intent and focus on each rep in practice," said Mayfield. "When you know a division opponent as well as we know the Panthers and they know us, it's truly about executing your job to the best of your ability each play. That's plain and simple. At this point in the season, yeah, there might be a couple of wrinkles here and there with the game plan, but what you see is what you get when you play a divisional opponent. It's about executing, beating the guy across from you, and finding a way to win."
The Buccaneers and Panthers didn't have to wait long for a rematch after Carolina's 23-20 win in Charlotte in Week 16. That was the third of four straight losses for the Buccaneers by four points or less. In each case, key fourth-quarter plays have gone the other way for Tampa Bay, a trend that has put their season on the brink. Against all odds, the Bucs still have another opportunity to bring home a fifth straight division crown.
"Here's the thing, we still have a chance next week," said Mayfield. "We've been blessed with a chance next week, and guys need to handle it the right way."
