If the Carolina Panthers have anything to play for in Week 18 it's pride and the opportunity to ruin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' season.
For the Buccaneers themselves, the stakes this weekend are pretty simple. Win, and you're three-time NFC South Division Champions playing a home playoff game against either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Dallas Cowboys.
Lose, and only a tie between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints saves your season. Even then, it might not be enough to save jobs.
No, Tampa Bay can't leave it to chance and hope it gets into the postseason through the aid of others. It needs to earn it the old-fashioned way, by beating the worst team in the NFL this year.
"We’ve been stressing that all year – you’ve got to earn everything," coach Todd Bowles said ahead of the game. "Like I told them, nobody is going to give you anything. You earn everything you get in this league. Whether you’re the best of teams or the worst of teams, you’re going to earn everything you get every week.”
The Panthers have earned the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for them, they've already traded it to the Chicago Bears as part of the swap that sent them from No. 9 to No. 1 last year to draft quarterback Bryce Young.
Just two weeks ago many thought the Bucs had done what Carolina was hoping to do with that pick; finding a franchise quarterback. At least for a few years.
After Week 17 left the Buccaneers carrying one more loss - at the hands of the New Orleans Saints of all teams - and quarterback Baker Mayfield bruised in body and ego, now there's any number of outcomes we can foresee for the team this offseason as it relates to his and coach Bowles' jobs this offseason.
Lose to the Panthers, and all bets are off. Win, and at least for the time being the swarming masses are kept at arms reach of each man's job.
That, of course, is if Mayfield can even play - or play well - on Sunday at all.
There may not be much at stake for Carolina, but Tampa Bay has plenty on the line.
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