Page 7 - Uccaneers News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

It wasn't pretty, but the Buccaneers are going to the playoffs. They lead our early booms and busts for Week 18.

BUCCANEERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (6), PASS (32), SCORING (T9) PANTHERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (32), RUSH (20), PASS (31), SCORING (31). PANTHERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (13), PASS (3), SCORING (30). TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Buccaneers plus-6, Panthers minus-7 BUCCANEERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Baker Mayfield, who's with his fourth team in six seasons, is trying to lead a club to the playoffs for the second time.

The New Orleans Saints stop Tampa Bay's four-game winning streak and climb back into a tie for first place in the NFC South with a 23-13 victory.

Why was Johnathan Abram, not Jordan Howden, starting at safety for the Saints? He had a good reason, and made the most of his opportunity.

The tight NFC South race is going down to the final week of the regular season. Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints beat Tampa Bay 23-13 on Sunday, climbing back into a tie with the Buccaneers for first place in the NFL's only division that doesn't include a team with a winning record. The Bucs (8-8) missed out on an opportunity to clinch their third straight NFC South title, sputtering most of the game offensively while Carr threw for two touchdowns and the Saints (8-8) intercepted Baker Mayfield twice and also forced two fumbles.