The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t play in Week 10, but that shouldn’t stop Bucs fans from paying close attention to several games on the slate that will impact the team’s playoff hopes.
With Tampa Bay sitting at 3-6 in a tight NFC South divisional race, the Buccaneers will take any help they can get as they look to pull off a miraculous turnaround and reach the postseason.
Here are four Week 10 matchups every Bucs fan should be watching, along with which team Tampa Bay needs to root for.
Week 10 games Buccaneers fans should be watching (and outcomes they should be rooting for)
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
This is a true toss-up, as both teams play in the NFC South and currently have three wins. You might be leaning towards the Panthers, since the Bucs have already beaten them head-to-head, owning the tiebreaker.
But I’m going in a different direction.
While they’re tied right now, the Panthers are much more likely to be a challenger down the stretch for the division title. The Saints have a brutal schedule ahead with games against the 6-2 Bengals, 7-2 Bears and 6-3 Packers, along with two matchups against the Bucs.
If the Buccaneers handle their business down the stretch, it’s hard to envision the Saints presenting much of an obstacle.
That’s why Bucs fans should root for New Orleans to do Tampa Bay a favor by knocking off the reigning NFC South champions in Week 10.
Verdict: Root for the Saints.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Atlanta Falcons
If the previous game was a toss-up, this is the complete opposite. A no-brainer.
The Falcons and Buccaneers are currently tied at 3-6. Kansas City resides in the AFC and their success has no bearing on Tampa Bay.
It would give the Bucs a massive boost if Kansas City can take down the Dirty Birds and send them down to the cellar of the NFC South.
Verdict: Root for the Chiefs
San Francisco 49ers @ Dallas Cowboys
If there’s one division that could give the NFC South a run for its money as the worst division in football, it’s the NFC East.
The New York Giants currently lead the way at 5-3-1, and are coming off a loss earlier this week, while the rest of the division is under .500. Similar to the NFC South, eight or nine wins could be enough to take the NFC East title.
The Cowboys are currently in second place, and seem to be the only true threat to unseat the Giants for the division lead.
The more that division loses, the better. Because if the Buccaneers do win the NFC South, playoff seeding will be an important factor in any potential postseason run. If the Buccaneers can win more games than the NFC East champion, it would mean avoiding holding the daunting No. 4 seed, which would likely see them match up with the runner-up of the NFC North, who could feasibly be a 12-plus win team.
Verdict: Root for the 49ers
Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals
This NFC West showdown has zero impact on the Buccaneers — at least not yet.
The Rams, who entered the season as heavy Super Bowl favorites, are currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture at 5-4.
Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself here, but if the Buccaneers want to go on a playoff run, the absolute last team they want to see is the Rams.
Sure, they’re underperforming now, but nobody wants to face a savvy veteran team featuring Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald in a win-or-go-home scenario.
The Bucs are 2-9 in their last 11 matchups with the Rams, including a 34-7 drubbing last season. This is an opponent Tampa Bay wants absolutely no part of in the postseason, and that’s why we’re rooting for the Cardinals to pull off the upset and knock the Rams even further out of the playoff picture.
Verdict: Root for the Cardinals
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