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Helped Bucs out.
The 49ers put the hammer down on the Stinking Panthers last night.
Why is that important? Because with a win, the Stinking Panthers would have taken over first place in the NFC South, pushing the Bucs into second place.
The way that the Bucs have played since the bye, specifically the defense, this team is trending down. Teams with bad defenses generally crumble late in the season and Joe fears that is what is happening now.
If the Bucs are going to make the playoffs, they are going to have to win the division. And the Bucs need all the help they can muster the way they’ve been playing after the bye.
With Baker Mayfield now hurt and his immediate status uncertain, the Bucs very easily collapse.
What once looked like a sure thing (playoffs) is anything but a lock now.