Almost everything seems to be bouncing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' way lately. After a four-game losing streak, the Bucs have stormed back into the playoffs race and control both the NFC South and the No. 3 seed in the conference heading into the season's home stretch.
There are just three games left on the schedule, and the Bucs might have the easiest path to the postseason among any team still trying to punch a ticket. The job is hardly finished, though, for as hot as the Bucs are right now, there's still no margin for error.
It's a window that could have widened just a bit more on Monday night if Tampa Bay could have gotten some help from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Atlanta Falcons are still on the Bucs' heels in the NFC South race, sitting just a game back and owning a full tiebreaker -- something we're hoping won't come into play.
Had the Raiders managed to pull off a miracle finish and beat the Falcons, it would have given the Bucs some nice breathing room in the division and given them a little bit of wiggle room should they run into trouble over the last three weeks.
It wasn't meant to be, but perhaps it's better that way.
Buccaneers still control NFC South but could have used some help from the Raiders on MNF
The good news is that the Buccaneers will only have themselves to blame if they end up falling out of the playoff picture and cough up the NFC South lead. A win by the Raiders on Monday night would have moved Tampa Bay into a potential clinching scenario ahead of schedule, but all good things come to those who wait.
Also, to those who earn it.
That's what this comes down to. Sure, it would have been nice if the Falcons had fumbled away the game in Vegas and fallen two games back with three left to go. That would be an easy way out, though, as the Bucs can't afford to limp into the playoffs and must make it there behind the strength of a strong push down the home stretch of the season.
Of course, it's not the like they're facing a gauntlet the rest of the way. The Cowboys, Saints, and Panthers remain on the schedule and while none of those can be taken lightly they aren't games the Bucs should lose -- at least not if they're truly serious about contending.
Losing any of those three games would have a far greater impact on the Bucs' status as contenders than it would the division, although the impact there can't be overlooked. Tampa Bay thankfully has more ways into the playoffs than it does ways it misses out, but nothing can be taken for granted.
That's what teams do before they get caught napping, and everything we've seen about the Bucs recently suggests they're as wide awake as we've seen them all season. If they're going to make the playoffs, it's best they do it on their own terms and not get too much outside help.
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