"Tampa Bay has lost seven of its last eight games, including a 23-20 loss to the Panthers in Carolina less than two weeks ago. At 7-9, they must beat the 8-8 Panthers on Saturday afternoon to get into a tie at 8-9. As they would have split the season series, and both teams would be 3-3 in divisional play, the deadlock would go to the third tie-breaker; best won-lost-tied percentage in common games. That would fall in the Bucs' favor."
"But the big game of the day kicks off later Saturday evening when the 49ers host the Seattle Seahawks. The winner not only takes the NFC West title, but lays claim to the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye. A Seattle win ensures no worse than a tie for the NFL's best record at 14-3. A 49ers' win deadlocks both teams at 13-4, but the 49ers beat Seattle in the first week of the season, giving San Francisco the NFC West title."
Six of seven NFC playoff berths are set, with the final spot between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay has lost seven of eight and is 7-9; a win over 8-8 Carolina would tie them at 8-9. With a split season series and identical divisional records, the tiebreaker goes to won-lost-tied percentage in common games, which favors Tampa Bay and would award the NFC South title and the No. 4 seed with a home playoff game. The San Francisco-Seattle game decides the NFC West champion and the No.1 seed. The Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers are locked as the sixth and seventh seeds.
Read at Inside The Star
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