Nothing's guaranteed, but Bucs need to win out to give themselves best shot to make the playoffs

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay’s surest path to the NFL playoffs is a division championship.

The Buccaneers will need help to repeat in the NFC South, but only if they first and foremost give themselves a chance.

That means winning their remaining games at home against Carolina and New Orleans, while the Atlanta Falcons lose at least once in the final two weeks of the regular season.

The Bucs (8-7) and Falcons share the best record in the division, however Atlanta holds the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams.

Tampa Bay, which has won three consecutive division titles, is the only NFC team that has made the playoffs each of the past four seasons.

“We’ve got to take care of business or else we’ve got no shot,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after a 26-24 loss at Dallas cost the Bucs control of the NFC South race.

“This one, we’...
[Short citation of 8% of the original article]