The New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons went into Sunday’s regular season finale with their playoff hopes hinging on the NFL’s worst team. And let’s just say that the Carolina Panthers weren’t in any rush to help their NFC South foes.
A Buccaneers loss would hand the division title to the winner of the Falcons-Saints game in New Orleans. And after five straight punts to open the game, the Panthers had a prime chance to take a surprising lead on Tampa Bay.
D.J. Chark just fumbled at the worst possible time.
Touchdown or fumble on this play?
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/P0sMSavjOb
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 7, 2024
.@AntoineWJr11 knocked it out for a touchback 👏
📺: #TBvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/X0vcyHUoyR pic.twitter.com/s8rVqVD4AV— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2024
After breaking free for what should have been a touchdown, Chark lost the ball shy of the goal line as he dove for the end zone and took some contact from Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Bucs recovered the fumble for a touchback and eventually took a three-point lead in the first half. If that fumble ends up making a difference in the game, it would just be a brutal blow for the Falcons-Saints winner.