The season may not technically come to an end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after their matchup against the Falcons, but it is fair to say that the season could be defined by this upcoming game.

A win over a weak Falcons team keeps the Buccaneers alive in the playoff race and within striking distance of winning the division. A loss likely puts that top spot too far out of reach for Tampa.

It feels like this has been said more than once already this year, but this is going to be a must-win game for Todd Bowles and company.

"Must-win" hasn't just been a title applied to this game for the Buccaneers. This whole season has generally been must-win for Todd Bowles to keep his job.

Bowles is one of the coaches with the hottest seats in the league right now. With many fans already calling for his job, it seems like the only way Bowles will remain the head coach of the Bucs would be a fiery run through the last five games of the season and a better playoff run than last season.

None of that is likely to happen with a loss this weekend.

A loss against the Falcons (Tampa's second of the season against their rival) would put the Bucs two games back from Atlanta at the head of the division and almost all but out of reach of reclaiming that lead due to their schedule.

Expecting the Bucs to easily make up games in the division while still having to play the Saints and Panthers (division matchups that are never easy) and games against the Packers and Jaguars is just silly when you look at the overall product of this season.

If the Bucs want to build any faith in their overall abilities and actually give themselves a shot at pulling something magical out of such a terrible season, a win this weekend is the absolute minimum. A big win may actually be what is truly needed, but we know that this is hard to count on with this team.

Buccaneers continue to disappoint in recent loss

Another rough one.