It’s been a constant refrain for the past couple of months for the Bucs. Tampa Bay loses a game – but yet is somehow still on top of the NFC South.

That remains the case this week for the Bucs after a 35-7 beatdown at the hands of the 49ers. Tampa Bay is now 6-7, but still leads the worst division in football.

Bucs OLB Carl Nassib – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

The Buccaneers have a one-game lead on their NFC South foes – for now. If Tampa Bay loses to Cincinnati this week, Carolina beats Pittsburgh and Atlanta wins at New Orleans there will be a three-way lead for the division.

The Bucs and Panthers both have 3-1 division records right now, while the Falcons and the Saints have 1-3 records. The Bucs swept the Saints for the first time since 2007, and beat the Falcons in Tampa Bay earlier this season.

Carolina beat Tampa Bay earlier in the season, so the Panthers would have the tiebreaker advantage right now. If the Bucs are going to win the NFC South, it seems like they would have to beat the Panthers in Tampa Bay on New Year’s Day, and likely winning at Atlanta the next week.

The Buccaneers at Falcons game in the 2022 season finale could decide the division title. Here are the remaining schedules for all four NFC South teams:

Bucs’ Remaining Schedule

Week 15 – vs. Bengals (9-4)
Week 16 – at Cardinals (4-8)
Week 17 – vs. Panthers (5-8)
Week 18 – at Falcons (5-8)

Panthers’ Remaining Schedule

Week 15 – vs. Steelers (5-8)
Week 16 – vs. Lions (6-7)
Week 17 – at Bucs (6-7)
Week 18 – at Saints (4-9)

Falcons’ Remaining Schedule

Week 15 – at Saints (4-9)
Week 16 – at Ravens (9-4)
Week 17 – vs. Cardinals (4-8)
Week 18 – vs. Bucs (6-7)

Saints’ Remaining Schedule

Week 15 – vs. Falcons (5-8)
Week 16 – at Browns (5-8)
Week 17 – at Eagles (12-1)
Week 18 – vs. Panthers (5-8)

Entering the final four-game stretch, head coach Todd Bowles issued a challenge to his team coming on the heels of Sunday’s loss in San Francisco.

“Decide who we want to be,” Bowles said. “We can’t be an up and down team. We have four weeks left to find out who we want to be this season and accomplish our goal.”