It certainly wasn’t pretty, but the Bucs got it done on Sunday against Carolina, defeating the Panthers 21-18.
Tampa Bay WR Mike Evans helped lead the offense and hauled in 7 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown. He also surpassed the 1,000 yard mark for the 10th consecutive season.
However, more importantly, the Buccaneers improved to 5-7 to keep their postseason hopes alive and set up a crucial matchup against the Atlanta Falcons (6-6) 1 p.m. Sunday. There are immense playoff implications, according to the New York Times playoff simulator.
“We viewed yesterday as a playoff game,” HC Todd Bowles said Monday. “From here on out, every game we play is a playoff game.”
As of now, Tampa Bay’s postseason hopes are unlikely — about 25%. However, the outcome of Sunday’s contest might very well decide if the Bucs will extend their postseason streak another year.
If Tampa Bay defeats Atlanta, its odds skyrocket to 50%. If the Bucs lose, they’ll have less than a 10% chance of reaching the postseason.
The Falcons are favored by 2.5 points, per BetMGM odds Tuesday. However, according to ESPN’s matchup predictor, the Bucs are a slight favorite and have a 51.5% of winning.
“We expect it to be tough on Sunday,” Bowles said.
Sunday’s matchup between the Bucs and Falcons begins 1 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will be broadcast by FOX.
