It’s common knowledge in sports that if you take care of your own business, you don’t have to worry about anybody else as far as the standings are concerned.

While this is entirely true, getting some help along the way is never a bad thing. This column will be completely dedicated to the results of the other three NFC South teams throughout the season; hopefully we’ll be able to bask in their failures together.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38, Detroit Lions 17

The Bucs are getting hot at the end of the season, and Jameis Winston is making his case to return as the team’s starter in 2020.

The afternoon started with a customary Winston interception, but the Florida State alum settled down and started picking the Lions’ secondary apart after that. Three out of four drives following that pic all went for Winston touchdown passes to give Tampa a quick 21-0 lead.

The Lions used back to back touchdown drives at the end of the third quarter to get it back within one possession, but a David Blough pick-six in the fourth quarter sealed their fate. Winston added a fourth touchdown in garbage time just for good measure.

Winston had 458 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and one interception. Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber almost equally split 21 carries but only managed to record a combined 40 rushing yards with that work. Chris Godwin was the leading receiver with 121 yards but it was Breshad Perriman who scored three receiving touchdowns.

Blough had 260 passing yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. Wes Hills was the leading rusher with 21 yards and two rushing scores. Danny Amendola paced the team in receiving with 102 yards.

Seattle Seahawks 30, Carolina Panthers 24

The Panthers continue their free-fall as the season winds to its closing stages. They put up a fight, but were no match for the playoff bound Seahawks.

Seattle scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions to take a 20-7 lead which would last until halftime.

The Seahawks went on a 10-3 run in the second half to swell their lead to 30-10, and the Panthers tried to fight back with back to back touchdowns but the clock ran out on them after their defense to failed to get the ball back from Seattle in the closing stages.

Russell Wilson had 286 passing yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Chris Carson gashed Carolina’s bottom-five run defense to the tune of 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Lockett led all receivers with 120 yards, and he added a touchdown as well.

Kyle Allen had 277 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interception. Christian McCaffrey recorded 175 yards from scrimmage on 27 touches, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the process. D.J. Moore was Carolina’s leading pass catcher with 113 receiving yards.

NFC South Standings after Week 15

1. New Orleans Saints (10-3 overall record; 4-1 division record) - Next vs. Colts (MNF)

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7 overall record; 2-3 division record) - Next vs. Texans

3. Atlanta Falcons (5-9 overall record; 3-2 division record) - Next vs. Jaguars

4. Carolina Panthers (5-9 overall record; 1-4 division record) - Next at Colts