Can Buccaneers win NFC South? Key Week 18 matchup looms

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers slumped to a 20-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins, heaping more pressure on head coach Todd Bowles.

With the Buccaneers now losing seven of their last eight games, the Buccaneers are in freefall, with Baker Mayfield's team struggling to stay afloat.

But the Bucs got some luck in Week 17, because the Carolina Panthers also lost.

Why is that lucky?

The Buccaneers are at 7-9, and the Panthers are at 8-8. So, a Tampa Bay win in Week 18 against the Panthers would clinch the division for the Buccaneers.

Funny, isn't it?

More: Where Panthers, Bucs sit in NFC South, playoff picture after Week 17 games

Bucs somehow can still win NFC South

The fact that a team that has lost seven of its last eight games can even be in with a chance at winning the division is, honestly, strange.

But the Buccaneers still have it all on the line in Week 18, and we imagine that the NFL schedule-makers are licking their lips at this matchup.

Likely to be a primetime game, with all the marbles on the line for both teams, it is looming as a monster Week 18 for Tampa Bay.

Head coach Todd Bowles is coming under fire (rightly so) for the form of his team, and now he might be one game away from once again securing playoff football.

Or missing out altogether.

On to Week 18 we go, folks.

More Buccaneers news: 

• Is Emeka Egbuka playing today? Why Bucs WR is off to slow start in Week 17
• Is Mike Evans playing today? Why Bucs WR is off to slow start in Week 17
• Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield chasing $1 million in contract incentives in final 2 weeks
• Wide receivers: Fantasy football championship starts, sits, sleepers for NFL Sunday