The Carolina Panthers are trying to ignore the outside noise heading into the pivotal winner-take-all showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. However, it was hard to overlook an unlikely scenario that incredibly went in their favor.
And it could change everything.
Head coach Dave Canales' squad blew a chance to clinch the division in Week 17. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks, which stung more after the Buccaneers were beaten by the Miami Dolphins. That set up a do-or-die clash for the NFC South championship, which also gets standalone billing on Saturday afternoon.