But if the Rams — who are starting Jimmy Garoppolo — lose to Seattle, the Buccaneers are the No. 3 seed. Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons enter the final

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinched the NFC South and the Washington Commanders locked up the NFC’s No. 6 seed. A 27-19 comeback victory over New Orleans for Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and the Buccaneers secured the NFC’s final playoff spot. The Denver Broncos were playing to lock up the AFC’s last opening in Sunday’s late afternoon schedule.

The NFC South race seemed to be over long before Sunday when the Falcons lost in overtime at Washington in Week 17. The Buccaneers were facing the sad-sack Saints, who had lost their previous two games by a combined 59-10 score. Once the Buccaneers won, they'd be on their way to the playoffs.