Bucs, Panthers lose to set up Week 18 showdown for NFC South

The NFC South will be decided in Week 18.

With the Carolina Panthers losing to the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers falling to the Miami Dolphins on the early Sunday slate, the division winner will most likely be determined when the Bucs and Panthers face off in the season finale.

The Buccaneers will host the Panthers next Sunday, with the NFL yet to announce a kickoff time. Carolina will claim the division crown with a win.

If Tampa Bay comes up with a victory, the Bucs will take the NFC South title as long as the Atlanta Falcons lose one of their final two games. If Atlanta ends its season with consecutive triumphs, the Panthers would go to the playoffs as division champs, regardless of what happens in their game versus the Buccaneers.

Carolina, which could've secured the division crown with a victory over Seattle and a Bucs loss to Miami, scored just 10 points and registered 139 yards of total offense in Sunday's loss. Bryce Young's 54 passing yards marked a career low for a game he started and finished.

The Buccaneers' defeat to the Dolphins leaves them with a 1-7 record in their last eight games after a 5-1 start to the season. Baker Mayfield threw for over 340 yards but had three turnovers, bringing his total to 10 over his last seven contests.

Tampa Bay has won the NFC South in four consecutive seasons, while Carolina hasn't won a division title since 2015. The Panthers beat the Buccaneers 23-20 when the teams last met Dec. 21.