Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Monday night's game between Tampa Bay and Carolina got even better Sunday.
A lot of people were viewing this as a matchup for the NFC South title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Now, it could be more than that. With the Giants losing to the Eagles and falling to 11-2, the winner of Monday night's game could give itself a shot at the No. 1 seed.
The Bucs and Panthers each are 9-3. If Carolina can win against Tampa Bay and next week at home against Denver and the Giants lose to Dallas next week, the Dec. 21 game between Carolina and the Giants in the Meadowlands could be huge.
The Bucs don't have a head-to-head game with the Giants, so they'll need New York to slip. Tampa Bay's remaining schedule includes a game at Atlanta and home games with San Diego and Oakland.
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.
