Sunday, 4 a.m.
You can argue all week about whether the Tampa Bay Bucs deserve to make the NFL playoffs.
But as the regular season approaches its final day, the Bucs still have a chance.
The Bucs beat the Carolina Panthers, 16-14, at Raymond James Stadium Saturday afternoon. Like much of the season, it wasn't a thing of beauty. Still, there is a chance.
"It (waiting) is all we can do," Bucs' coach Todd Bowles said. "We can't wait til tomorrow if we don't win today, so it was a gutsy performance. This guys fought hard. It was a tough game on both sides. We came out with one. We gave ourselves a chance. That's all we fan ask for."
Tampa Bay scored only one touchdown against the Panthers, and quarterback Baker Mayfield had another crucial interception. But the Bucs ran the ball, and they got a good day from their defense. And, in a driving rainstorm, the Bucs at least purchased a lottery ticket.
Oh, the Falcons are favored. They're at home, and the Saints are missing receiver Chris Olave. If Atlanta was to win, it would gift the playoff spot to Carolina.
The Bucs, 2-6 in their second-half, lost enough winnable games to have clinched long ago.
Tight end Cade Otton caught seven passes for 94 yards and is first touchdown of the year. Bucky Irvins ran 26 times for 84 yards.
"He did a great job," Bowles said. "With the conditions .... it was that type of game. You really couldn't get outside much. He did a heck of a job on the boots andd made some key catches for us."
The defense gave up two touchdowns -- one after an interception by Mayfield, and the second when Tetairoa McMillian got behind the Bucs' secondary for a 40-yard catch.
But the defense gave up just 19 yards rushing to Carolina -- both Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdell had 10 yards each.
"They did a very good job controlling the line of scrimmage," Bowles said. "(Antonio) Winfield had a lot to do with that, pushing the ball one way. Those guys did a really good job of playing gap control. It was the first time in a long time that we just played the way we were supposed to play without giving up a big play in the run game."
The Bucs -- who rarely ran the ball last week against Miami -- ran it 42 times. Mayfield threw just 22 times.
Linebacker Lavonte David had six tackles, tying Derrick Brooks' franchise record.
"He tied Derrick Brooks' most tackles of all-time," Bowles said. "That's really saying something. Healways comes up with a big play when you needit most. , whether it's a big hit or an interception. If this was it for him, he went out in true Lavonte David fashion. I can't say enough good things about him. His work speaks for itself."