As the 8-8 Panthers visit the 7-9 Buccaneers on Saturday for the NFC South title—stakes detailed in prior coverage—this clash could produce another sub-.500 division winner, fueling playoff format reform talks, while Carolina WR Tetairoa McMillan eyes Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
With the winner claiming the NFC South crown and No. 4 seed (Panthers via win/tie or Saints loss; Buccaneers via win plus Falcons win over Saints), the game risks crowning an 8-9 champion for the seventh sub-.500 playoff team in NFL history. The Panthers (previously 7-8-1 in 2014) and Buccaneers (8-9 in 2022) have done so before, prompting calls for reform like the Lions' withdrawn May proposal to seed by record over division guarantees. Commissioner Roger Goodell endorsed evaluation in April: "I thought it is a very healthy proposal... we need to evaluate." Currently, Carolina holds the No. 4 seed behind the 13-3 Seahawks, 11-5 Bears, and 11-5 Eagles.
Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan (-175 favorite at DraftKings for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, announced Feb. 5) bolsters his case against Tampa Bay's 26th-ranked pass defense (236.4 yards/game). Leading rookies with seven receiving TDs, second in yards (929), and third in receptions (66), he posted six catches, 73 yards, and a TD versus the Bucs two weeks ago—sans injured CB Jamel Dean. Panthers are 3-point underdogs.
Meanwhile, Saints QB Tyler Shough (+150 odds) has sparked a four-game win streak (longest since 2020) with 69.6% completions, 1,997 yards, nine TDs, and four INTs since Week 9. New Orleans hosts Atlanta as 3.5-point underdogs. McMillan's full-season stats may edge him out in voting (top-five points: 10-5-3-2-1).
