Buccaneers take lead in first quarter The Buccaneers got the ball first and got to the 44, but they stalled out at midfield and were forced to punt. The Falcons

The upset knocked the Bucs out of first place in the division and put the Carolina Panthers on top by one-half game. With its fifth loss in its past six games, including a 24-20 setback to NFC South cellar-dweller New Orleans on Sunday, Tampa Bay dropped to 7-7 for the 2025 season.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still in control of their destiny to win the NFC South after losing two close games against the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons.

The Panthers could be able to clinch their first NFC South title in a decade by the end of Week 16. Here's how . . .

Following the Bucs’ 29-28 loss to the Atlanta Falcons Thursday night, their second defeat to a team eliminated from contention in five days, coach Todd Bowles unloaded on his club with a profanity-laced assessment that questioned how much some players cared about the way they’re going about their jobs.

This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Be like (NASCAR) Mike today. Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images I have to begin today by giving props to our Scoop City writer Jacob Robinson,

Week 16 begins with an NFC South showdown between the Atlanta Falcons (4-9) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6). Although the Falcons have been eliminated from playoff contention, they can still play spoiler for a Bucs team fighting for the division title with the Carolina Panthers (7-6).

Kirk Cousins threw three touchdown passes to Kyle Pitts Sr., and Zane Gonzalez kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to complete the Atlanta Falcons' rally for a 29-28 victory victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night.