With just three games left in the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are miraculously in a position to not only win a fourth straight NFC South but storm into the playoffs as a top seed in the conference. All of this is happening despite a four-game losing streak nearly derailing the season just a month ago, which is a testament to the job Todd Bowles and his coaching staff have done to hold things together.
It's also a massive endorsement of the Bucs' offense, one that Liam Coen has evolved so much that getting head coaching buzz. We'll see what ends up happening there, but before we cross that bridge there's work to be done in potentially going on a Super Bowl run.
That's a goal Coen mentioned when addressing heading coaching rumors earlier this week, and pundits are starting to drink the Kool-Aid as well. First, the Bucs need to get into the playoffs before we can start thinking about what another deep run might look like.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinching scenarios heading into Week 16
Unfortunately, the Buccaneers can't clinch a playoff spot this Sunday, but they can do a lot of legwork to set something up next week.
Atlanta is the team that the Bucs should be watching the closest since winning the NFC South is the clearest path into the playoffs. This is what needs to happen fi the Bucs stumble at all down the stretch of the season:
- If the Falcons go 3-0, the Bucs must go at least 2-0-1.
- If the Falcons go 2-0-1, the Bucs must go at least 2-1.
- If the Falcons go 2-1, the Bucs must go at least 1-1-1.
- If the Falcons go 1-1-1, the Bucs must go at least 1-2.
As for teams Bucs fans should be rooting against, losses by the Rams, Seahawks, Falcons, and Commanders would be very helpful. Those outcomes would directly impact either the Bucs' chances of clinching or they're potential seeding.
There are two ways the Bucs can get into the playoffs, and three different seeds that are in play. Right now Tampa Bay controls the No. 3 seed, which means all they need to do is win out to secure it. That's as high as the Bucs can rise in the playoff picture, as even though they have a tiebreaker over the Eagles it's mathematically impossible for Philly to lose six games.
Getting the No. 3 seed is the most ideal route into the playoffs for Tampa Bay but it's not the only one. The Bucs can fall to the No. 4 seed if they go 2-1 over the next three games and the Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks win out, plus the Falcons lose at least one game.
The worst case scenario is the Bucs drop to the No. 7 seed, which is the only other way they can get into the playoffs. This would mean the Falcons win the NFC South but the Bucs get some breaks from the Commanders losing out and chaos in the NFC West helping out as well.
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