Buccaneers: Wild-card race down the stretch will be intriguing

Nov 15, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) lines up behind center in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2020; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) lines up behind center in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the thick of the wild-card hunt as we head down the stretch

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are basically out of the race to win the NFC South division, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be an intense emphasis on the next four games as we head down the stretch of the 2020 season.

The Buccaneers currently sit at 7-5 overall as they enter their bye week and they’ll now be looking to win some matchups in these last four games against teams they should be favored against.

As we approach the final five weeks of the NFL season, here’s a look at the wild-card race and what Bucs fans should be watching for.

Wild-Card race for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be intriguing

NFC Wild-Card Standings heading into Week 13:

  1. Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
  4. Minnesota Vikings (5-6)
  5. Chicago Bears (5-6)
  6. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)

Keep in mind that the Rams could still end up as NFC West champions and that would put the Seattle Seahawks in their place.

That being said, this is basically a look at the wild-card race heading into Week 13.

The Bucs control their own destiny in that if they win out, they’re guaranteed a spot. A loss, though, makes things very interesting.

If the Bucs were to lose next weekend to the Vikings and Minnesota won this week against the Jags, the Bucs could fall all the way behind the Bears depending on how the other teams around them fared.

The point? If you’re a Buccaneers fan, you want teams like the Cardinals, Vikings, Bears and 49ers to keep losing. There’s still a shot that Tampa Bay could end up with that first wild-card spot, but it’s looking much more unlikely as we head down the stretch. That’s why it will be important for the Bucs to take care of what they can control and pull for the teams behind them to help them out a little, as well.

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No matter how things shape out, it’s going to be an intriguing wild-card race as we head down the stretch of the season to say the least.