TAMPA, Fla. -- It was Dec. 29, hours after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had defeated the Carolina Panthers, 48-14, and every pair of eyes in quarterback Baker Mayfield's living room were fixated on the TV with players nervously gnawing chicken tenders and onion rings.
The main attraction? The Washington Commanders hosting the Atlanta Falcons on "Sunday Night Football."
The Bucs needed the Commanders to win the Week 17 game to move ahead of the Falcons in the NFC South race and control their own playoff fate heading into the Week 18 season finale.