TAMPA — This week is the final week of the NFL regular season, which means it’s crunch time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the playoff season quickly approaches.

What You Need To Know

  • Week 18 is here and the Buccaneers are hoping to secure their spot in the playoffs

  • The Bucs could have clinched the NFC South on Sunday but lost to New Orleans

  • If the Bucs win this week against Carolina, they win the division.

The Bucs were hoping to finish off 2023 with a New Years Eve win, but the New Orleans Saints had other plans. The Saints beat the Bucs, 23-13, leaving tied for first in the division.

It’s going to come down to Week 18, where Head Coach Todd Bowles said Baker Mayfield is feeling a little sore in his ribs, but will be good to go for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Bucs still have the chance to keep their resolution and their season alive.

“We just were in a daze for the first quarter and a half before we could get anything going, and by then it's too late against a good football team," Bowles said of the loss to New Orleans.

"We can't worry about what happened (Sunday). We'll correct it, move on and get ready for Sunday."

Not all hope is lost for the division title, though. If the Bucs win this week against Carolina, the will win the NFC South for the third consecutive year.