"The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers know they control their own destiny after devastating losses in Week 15. Despite their struggles, there's still a lot left to play for. They face each other in Weeks 16 and 18 -- the first at Carolina on Sunday and the second at Tampa Bay on Jan. 4. If one team sweeps the matchups, it will win the division."
"Tampa Bay currently owns the preceding tiebreaker of record against common opponents. The Bucs are 5-5, and the Panthers are 4-6. Neither team is playing at a consistently high level that should give it confidence a sweep is certain. The Bucs (7-7) have lost two straight and five of their past six games. The Panthers (7-7) haven't had consecutive wins since mid-October and have lost four of their past seven games."
Carolina and Tampa Bay each sit at 7-7 and will decide the NFC South in head-to-head games in Weeks 16 and 18; a sweep by either clinches the division. Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker based on record against common opponents, with the Bucs 5-5 and the Panthers 4-6 in that measure. Both teams have struggled for consistency: the Bucs have lost two straight and five of six, while the Panthers have not posted back-to-back wins since mid-October and have dropped four of seven. Coaches cited the need for identity, professionalism, maturity and player accountability after recent collapses.
Read at ESPN.com
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