The Carolina Panthers managed to get over the line for a pivotal victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to seize control of the NFC South with two games remaining. And visiting head coach Todd Bowles' postgame quote proved how completely he misjudged the team that took their place at the division's summit.
Tampa Bay has had Carolina's number for the best part of five years. First, it was Tom Brady. Then, it was Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers viewed the Panthers as inferior, as ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed before the clash. They were mistaken, and the team's playoff fate is no longer in their hands as a result.