The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a far cry from the team that started 6–2 with wins over the Seahawks and 49ers. This group is getting worse, not better, and Todd Bowles does not appear to have the answers. After the loss in Miami, Bowles now sits at 34–33 as head coach, with losing records in two of his four seasons. Now the Bucs no longer control their own fate. Even a win over the Panthers may not be enough, as Tampa Bay needs the Saints to beat a Falcons team coming off a big primetime win over the Rams. If Atlanta wins, the Bucs are eliminated, and the NFC South crown goes to Carolina in what would be a messy and underwhelming finish to the season.