Halfway through the 2025 season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves at 6-2 and currently holding the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff picture. It's a place we weren't sure they'd be after the disaster in Detroit, but then again, this season has been all about subverting expectations.
If things go Tampa Bay’s way in Week 10, the right combination of results could see the Buccaneers take possession of the No. 1 seed atop the NFC.
That means there's more than just one game fans should keep an eye on, which makes Sunday's action even more fun that it already was shaping up to be.
New England Patriots (7-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)
Okay, this one goes without saying.
Nothing else on this list matters if the Buccaneers don’t take care of business at home against the Patriots. A win for Tampa Bay would open the door for everything else to fall into place and allow the Bucs the chance to stand alone atop the NFC.
A loss here would be devastating with brutal road matchups against the Bills and Rams on the horizon.
Atlanta Falcons (3-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-2)
The week kicks off with an early-morning international game that carries simple but important implications for the Buccaneers. An NFC South rival who could threaten Tampa Bay’s division lead faces an AFC opponent with no impact on the Bucs’ playoff positioning.
This week, we bleed blue.
New Orleans Saints (1-8) @ Carolina Panthers (5-4)
Can we root for both teams to lose? In all seriousness, the Panthers have quietly turned things around this season, sitting at 5-4 and in second place in the NFC South.
A Carolina win paired with a Buccaneers loss would pull the Panthers within just one game of Tampa Bay in the division standings.
Arizona Cardinals (3-5) at Seattle Seahawks (6-2)
The Buccaneers beat the Seahawks 38-35 in an instant classic just a few weeks ago and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, but Seattle remains legitimate contenders for the NFC’s top seed.
If Arizona can pull off the major upset, it would give Tampa Bay some much-needed breathing room atop the NFC. It’s not often Bucs fans find themselves cheering for New Orleans, but this week, the Saints could do Tampa Bay a huge favor by getting Carolina off their heels.
Los Angeles Rams (6-2) at San Francisco 49ers (6-3)
The Rams are currently tied with the Buccaneers for the NFC’s best record, and with the two teams set to meet in just two weeks, this matchup carries real significance.
Given Tampa Bay’s recent struggles against Los Angeles, going 2-8 in their last ten meetings and allowing at least 27 points in four of five matchups since Todd Bowles became defensive coordinator in 2019, it’s tough to envision the Bucs beating the Rams in Week 12.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers already took care of business against the 49ers, earning a 30-19 win back in Week 6 and holding the head-to-head tiebreaker. This week, Bucs fans should be pulling for San Francisco, as the Rams remain the bigger threat to Tampa Bay’s playoff positioning.
Detroit Lions (5-3) at Washington Commanders (3-6)
The Lions embarrassed the Buccaneers 24-9 in Week 7, holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay.
Fortunately for the Bucs, Detroit stumbled in an upset loss to the Vikings while Tampa Bay was on its bye in Week 9, doing them a major favor in the NFC playoff race.
Another loss for the Lions would give the Buccaneers some valuable cushion in the standings and be a huge boost for Tampa Bay’s playoff positioning, but it would take a miracle for the Marcus Mariota-led Commanders to pull off an upset against this Detroit team. Bucs fans should send some positive vibes Washington’s way and hope for the upset.
Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) at Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)
Another game where it would be great if both teams could lose! Both these teams are in the mix for the NFC’s top spot, but the Eagles have already beaten the Bucs this season, while Green Bay doesn’t face Tampa Bay in the regular season.
Currently, the Eagles are the only team ahead of Tampa Bay in the NFC standings. A Packers win here, combined with a Bucs win, would have Tampa Bay at 7-2, Green Bay at 6-2-1, and Philadelphia at 6-3. In that scenario, the Buccaneers would take sole possession of the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Apart from the Buccaneers’ own game against New England, this Monday Night Football matchup is the most important game of the week for Bucs fans. Go Pack Go!