Panthers and Buccaneers face final week decider as Steelers botch chance to clinch
STRUGGLES APLENTY: Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one last chance to make the NFL playoffs. Pic: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The Carolina Panthers will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week in a winner-takes-all showdown for the NFC South division title after both sides lost their penultimate games of the regular season.
Panthers were beaten 27-10 in Charlotte by the Seattle Seahawks, who stayed on course for the NFC West title and number one seed in the play-offs, while the Buccaneers went down 20-17 at the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins' rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard effort for his first NFL score.
The Pittsburgh Steelers were denied the AFC North title after they lost in Cleveland, with the Browns pulling off a major upset with a 13-6 win.
Browns' quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 186 yards and a touchdown as his side halted a four-game losing run.
Defeat for the Steelers keeps arch-rivals the Baltimore Ravens in the hunt for a play-off place and the two sides clash next week at the Acrisure Stadium to decide who will take the last spot.
The Jacksonville Jaguars edged closer to the AFC South title by defeating the Indianapolis Colts 23-17 on the road, making it eight wins in their last nine games to seal a play-off spot.
Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence ran in two touchdowns as his side made it seven successive wins.
Tennessee Titans' wide receiver Chimere Dike broke the record for most all-purpose yards for a rookie in the NFL - he has over 2,300 this season - but his side went down 34-26 to the New Orleans Saints in Nashville.
The New York Jets were put to the sword by the New England Patriots at the MetLife Stadium, losing 42-10, with Pats quarterback Drake Maye throwing for five touchdown passes and 256 yards as he completed 19 passes from 21 attempts.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tied with Carolina Panthers' Andy Dalton after passing for 300 yards or more for the 28th time in his side's 37-14 win at the Arizona Cardinals, which included two touchdown passes for Ja'Marr Chase.




