Back in mid-October, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were sitting on top of the world. They were 5-1, and ranked No. 1 in several NFL power rankings. Surely, a fifth-straight NFC South division title was theirs for the taking — and a long postseason run seemed like a legitimate possibility.

But the last two-plus months have been a disaster. They are just 2-8 in their last 10 games and have staggered to the finish, losing their last four games. Three of the losses were to teams with losing records — New Orleans, Atlanta and Miami — and the first two were at home.

The fourth loss was to the Carolina Panthers, who have blasted past the Bucs in the NFC South race. They are 8-8, the Bucs are 7-9 and the two teams meet in a nationally televised showdown on Saturday, with playoff hopes still there for the taking for both teams.

Carolina is in the driver's seat, with a win getting them in for sure as the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoffs. They would host a playoff game as well.

The Bucs' freefall makes things a little more difficult for them. Not only do have to win the 4:30 p.m. ET game, but now they need the Falcons to lose, too. Atlanta has won three straight to get to 7-9, so if they beat the Saints on Sunday and the Bucs win, all three teams will be 8-9. In the event of a three-way tie, Carolina wins the tiebreaker — and the Bucs are out.

So it's win or else, and then pray for some help.

“We just have to win the game on Saturday, and then we’ll see,” Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “We’ve made this bed. We understand that. We can’t do anything on Sunday unless we win Saturday.” 

The Bucs have no one to blame but themselves for their predicament. They've fallen apart on both sides of the ball. Tackling has always been on of their strengths, but that's disappeared on the defensive side of the ball, and there have been far too many busted assignments.

They also haven't been able to find any rhythm on offense, and haven't been able to come up with a play late. Their four recent losses are by a combined 10 points, so just one more play could have made a difference. 

Mayfield, who's in the second year of a three-year, $100 million contract. 

“(You) have to have a short memory, and I do,” Mayfield said. ”I know what the priority is, and that’s winning Saturday. To be able to completely forget what’s going on.

"Being the competitor I am, I’m frustrated with where we’re at. I am able to compartmentalize and be able to focus on Saturday.”

The game starts at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on ABC and ESPN. it is one of two games on Saturday, with the other 14 on Sunday. At 8 p.m. ET, the Seattle Seahawks visit the San Francisco 49ers to determine the NFC West title — and the first-round bye in the NFC playoffs.