The Carolina Panthers (8-8) will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9) for the NFC South division crown at Raymond James Stadium at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The NFL announced the full slate of dates and times for its Week 18 schedule on Sunday. All 16 finale games had open-ended scheduling throughout the year, so the NFL could put its highest-stakes matchups on highlighted broadcasts to end the regular season.
The season finale in Tampa Bay will air on ESPN nationally (ABC locally).
The Panthers and Buccaneers have been on a collision course throughout the second half of the season. Tampa Bay, the reigning four-time division champion, has been on a free fall (losing seven of the last eight games), while Carolina has scrapped its way to a respectable .500 mark.
The Panthers bested the Buccaneers, 23-20, in Week 16, and Carolina will look to close out a sweep on the road just two weeks later. A win or tie for Carolina would land them a division title, something that has eluded the Panthers since their last NFC South crown in 2015.
The Panthers — who lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 27-10, at Bank of America Stadium in Week 17 — haven’t been to the playoffs since 2017. A Week 18 win would clinch the first playoff berth and division title under owners David and Nicole Tepper.
Mike Kaye
Source link