The NFC South title will come down to the final game of the season: Carolina at Tampa Bay this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. Winner take all for a first-round home playoff game.
Neither team on Sunday appeared ready to assume the role of division winner.
The Buccaneers fell at Miami, 20-17, to slump to 7-9, but remained one game behind Carolina (8-8) in the NFC South after the Panthers' 27-10 loss to Seattle.
The Bucs can still clinch their fifth consecutive division title and sixth straight playoff berth if they beat Carolina next week to force a two-way tie. If Tampa Bay, Carolina and Atlanta all tie at 8-9, the Panthers would win the division. The Falcons (6-9) host the Rams on Monday night.
The NFL flexed the Panthers-Bucs showdown at Raymond James Stadium to Saturday at 4:30 p.m. It will be televised by ABC/ESPN.
"I think we've got to erase that from our heads because we have to get ourselves together before we worry about anybody else, Carolina or anybody else," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.
Tampa Bay has lost four straight games, seven of its last eight and has barely looked like a playoff team during that stretch. Those four defeats have all been by one possession.
Throughout the skid, which began after a 6-2 start, the Bucs have been their worst enemy, and on Sunday against the Dolphins there were mistakes in all phases of the game. Among them:
- Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw two interceptions and fumbled on a sack with 4:04 remaining as the Bucs, down by 10, were driving at the Dolphins' 31.
- A busted coverage in the secondary led to a long Miami touchdown pass in the first quarter.
- Chase McLaughlin, who connected on 11 straight field goals from 55-plus yards, had a 55-yard attempt blocked late in the first half.
- After McLaughlin's 33-yard field goal cut the deficit to seven points late in the third quarter, Miami's Malik Washington returned the kickoff 47 yards to set up a matching field goal.
- The Bucs' No. 7-ranked rush defense gave up 145 yards on the ground to Miami, led by De'Von Achane's 18 carries for 83 yards (a 4.6-yard average).
"We've just been shooting ourselves in the foot at every chance," Bowles said. "That starts with me. I've got to coach them better, they've got to play it better, and we've got to figure out how we can stop making mistakes and move on. If we play and do things we did today next week we won't be going anywhere."
Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers completed 14 of 22 for 172 yards and two touchdowns in his second career start for the Dolphins.
The first TD was to rookie receiver Theo Wease Jr., who found a spot 20 yards downfield behind Bucs cornerback Jamel Dean and safety Tykee Smith, caught Ewers' pass and raced to the end zone for a 63-yard score. Bowles blamed the busted coverage on miscommunication and technique issues.
Tight end Greg Dulcich caught Ewers' other TD on an 11-yard pass to give Miami a 17-7 lead in the second quarter
The Dolphins (7-9) came into the game eliminated from playoff contention, but Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans said they looked more like a team playing for a postseason berth.
“We didn’t deserve it," Evans said. "They played like they had a chance at the playoffs, and we played like we were ready to go home.”
After the loss, Bucs linebacker Lavonte David delivered a locker room speech to teammates. Mayfield wanted to keep the contents of that message in-house, but he indicated the 14-year veteran's words were clear that their playoff chances are still alive.
“Here's the thing,” Mayfield said. “We still have a chance next week. We’ve been blessed with a chance next week, and guys need to handle it the right way. Lavonte spoke to the team after the game and hit the nail on the head, so we’ve got to respond.”
Mayfield completed 33 of 44 passes for 346 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Godwin on the game's opening drive. Mayfield has thrown an interception in each game of the losing streak, including two on Sunday.
The first pick was an underthrow to receiver Jalen McMillan that was picked off by rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.
The second came as the Bucs were driving down the field midway through the fourth, trailing by 10. Mayfield, one play after somehow escaping a sack attempt by Quinton Bell and completing an 11-yard pass to Evans, threw a red zone interception to safety Ashtyn Davis.
The Bucs forced a Dolphins punt, but linebacker Bradley Chubb stripped Mayfield on a sack, which Bell recovered.
"Those turnovers obviously crushed us," Mayfield said.
Tampa Bay pulled within three with 54 seconds left after a three-play, 91-yard drive that Mayfield capped with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Evans.
Chris Godwin had a 59-yard catch and run that set up that score, but Miami recovered the ensuing onside kick to end any comeback attempt.
