Wild Card Shot Roasted If Bucs Lose Sunday
November 25th, 2016
Here’s a look at the brutal Wild Card situation for the Bucs if they lose Sunday.
A loss to Seattle puts Tampa Bay at 5-6 and 4-4 in the NFC. Conference record is the second tiebreaker for a Wild Card after head-to-head records.
The Giants (7-3) lead the NFC Wild Card chase. The Redskins (can you believe Kirk Freaking Cousins yesterday?) are in strong shape at 6-4-1 (4-3) in conference.
The Vikings (6-5) only have one more team with a winning record on their schedule. That’s Dallas (10-1) in Minnesota on Thursday night. The Bucs head to Dallas in mid-December.
Sunday’s games to watch:
Arizona (4-5-1) at Atlanta (6-4) – Sunday, 1 p.m.
An Arizona win effectively puts them two games up on the Bucs with five games to play, because the Cardinals hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after crushing the Bucs in September. However, Arizona has a brutal closing schedule hosting the Redskins and Saints, and traveling to Miami, Seattle and Los Angeles. … Atlanta’s remaining games are home to K.C., New Orleans and San Francisco, and on the road to L.A. and Carolina. Not exactly rough sailing.
Giants (7-3) at Browns (0-11) – Sunday, 1 p.m.
A Giants loss Sunday would be the upset of the century. New York will get brutal tests in their final five games, hosting 10-1 Dallas and Detroit, and heading to Pittsburgh, Philly and Washington. Sure, the Giants could wind up 9-7, but that would mean at least one “W” for the Eagles (5-5) and/or Redskins (6-4-1). And that’s bad for the Bucs.
Eagles (5-5) at Packers (4-6) – Monday, 8:30 p.m.
Nobody’s talking about Doug Pederson’s Eagles, but they should be. Joe pulling big time for the Packers in this game. Knock the damn Eagles out. Joe’s convinced the Packers aren’t going anywhere and don’t have a big run in them. A win by the Eagles certainly would be a huge signature victory for a young team with a first-time head coach. The Eagles close with games at Cincinnati (3-6-1) and at Baltimore, plus they host the Redskins, Giants and Dallas.
Los Angeles (4-6) at New Orleans (4-6) – Sunday, 1 p.m.
Damn, Joe is a huge Rams fan this weekend. Everyone knows the Rams are destined for a 7-9 record, so taking down the Saints is the focus. New Orleans has two more games against the Bucs. Frankly, they’re a bad matchup for Tampa Bay. The Saints ring up points on everyone (28.5 points per game), and despite the magic of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, his weapons are limited and can’t be relied upon in a shootout. The Saints (3-3 in the NFC) finish with games at Tampa, Arizona and Atlanta, and they host Detroit and the Bucs. Joe doesn’t think the Saints are going anywhere, but Joe would much prefer New Orleans have nothing to play for.
In 2015, both NFC Wild Card teams had 10-6 records. In 2013 and 2014, it took 11 wins to score an NFC Wild Card berth.
If the Bucs lose Sunday, Joe sees the only path to postseason glory is winning the NFC South, something that should still be quite possible.
November 25th, 2016 at 9:21 am
This is playoff sunday. Win and move on, lose and youre toast.
November 25th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Just win baby!
November 25th, 2016 at 9:23 am
Playoffs?!
November 25th, 2016 at 9:26 am
Can I believe Cousins yesterday? Heck yes I can, he got me 36 Freaking Points in my FF league. Second best FF QB in the League!!
November 25th, 2016 at 9:33 am
A blind man can see that our best shot at the playoffs is to win the division. Stay the course. GO BUCS!
November 25th, 2016 at 9:33 am
I was just looking over the BR NFL rankings this week. They have the Bucs at #26 overall. I think this is a bit lower than they really are, but I think playoffs talk this early is a bit silly. If they win Sunday and beat a very good team maybe we can start the conversation.
November 25th, 2016 at 9:43 am
Hey Joe if Atlanta loses Sunday and Tampa wins who of the 2 would be in first of our division? could Sunday’s game mean regaining 1st place and a playoff spot and date I say…. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE?!
November 25th, 2016 at 9:49 am
Are the stars lined up for us
Read that seattle never been this injured than this week
Earl thomas- never missed a game in his carreer
Center
#1rb
#2 corner
Bennett
All out for sunday
West to eastcoast flight with 3 days after turkey day
*Lets see Sherman play without the best safety/ centerfielder in the biz to cover his as $
November 25th, 2016 at 10:11 am
FF is the worse it makes you root against your own team.
November 25th, 2016 at 10:14 am
@Kobe Faker I see where you are going with this…the way Americas QB has been throwing the ball around to different receivers like hot potato will force Sherman to pull away from Evans and if his top safety isn’t around to bust him out of plays “Fameis” will light them up. Now can you imagine the turn out if Douggie gets going?!
November 25th, 2016 at 10:15 am
Seattle’s defense is top-tier as everyone knows by now, so Jameis and Bucs offense will have their hands full. If our offense just has its ‘average’ game though, Bucs won’t win unless our defense really stands tall. Wilson & company just don’t turn the ball over, so defense probably can’t count too much on that. Our D will have to force 3-and-outs consistently or we’ll be in trouble. When Seahawks get the lead, they seem to be pretty danged good at holding onto it. Still contend that they can be beaten though, primarily because they’re pretty banged up right now and the Bucs are getting much healthier. Keys for the Bucs will be (1) establish an effective run game; (2) complete a lot of short & intermediate passes; (3) our defense holding Seattle to FGs instead of TDs. Bucs win 27-21.
November 25th, 2016 at 10:17 am
Don’t worry about wild card. Number one goal is to win the division! Just keep winning and let the chips fall where they may.
November 25th, 2016 at 10:18 am
If you look at this teams season they are far from playoff contenders
Defense is too soft to be relied upon to stop anyone consistently
November 25th, 2016 at 10:44 am
I see them pulling an upset and having a shot at the division. All depends on how they play in the two games against NO
November 25th, 2016 at 11:35 am
Same deal as with KC when Bucs had to sail into Arrowhead: Top Tier ballclub w/righteous D, but injured. Bucs played at the same level as when the D Chicks in Hotlanta in game one. Winner: Tampa Bay. Bucs know they owe us devoted, long-suffering fans the second home victory at RJS. Doable. C’mon, Bucs!!:-)
November 25th, 2016 at 11:37 am
I still say 8-8, but winning the division would be nice. At least, we are not going to finish in last place this year!!
November 25th, 2016 at 11:40 am
And reality finally sets in for the Joes…
November 25th, 2016 at 11:46 am
Six games left in the season and instead of talking about next year’s draft we are discussing this year’s playoffs. i could get used to this!
November 25th, 2016 at 11:48 am
Our best shot at the playoffs is to win the rest of our games period!
November 25th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Since our loss of OAK and the RAMs, we have no control of our destiny
Our playoff chances depends solely on ATL collapse.
ATL has to lose to ARI and KC for us to make the post season
Lets Go Bucs and Cards
November 25th, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Total bullspit.
Bucs ‘playoff hopes’ were dashed according to the talking heads when we last loss.
Things change from week to week. If we lose this week, and Falcons lose…then its open season. Still.
November 25th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Not that I actually want us in the playoffs. I want to play to win, but I would rather miss hte playoffs and move up a few picks in the draft as a result, since I KNOW we cannot WIN in the playoffs.
November 25th, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Don’t care about playoffs just a pipe dream…
November 25th, 2016 at 12:29 pm
The only way I would like to see us make the playoffs is if the team suddenly turned a corner and went 4-2 the rest of the season.
November 25th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
We’re one or two years away from being a playoff quality team. We need better backups; our first string can play with anyone in the league but that is as far as it goes.
November 25th, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Team has already turned the corner we just need this win Sunday . Getting good at the right time. Remember football starts in November lol. Not really concerned about the wild card we need to win the division. Atlanta also has the Chiefs after the cardinals this week
November 25th, 2016 at 7:36 pm
Dont forget julio jones with that frame and weight
The punishment and abuse takes its toll to that 220lb body. He is never fully healthy end of every year
Any play those ankles/hams could go at anytime
November 26th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Not the time to talk playoffs. Focus solely on this week’s match up vs Seattle. I said in this two game stretch if we go 1-1 it would be a big confidence booster because you beat high quality team. I like how Tampa is slowly putting things together. We need to see consistency in all areas. Offense has to put 7 up when they get in the red zone. Defense has to get off the field on 3rd downs and in 3rd and longs don’t give up a first down. Hate to say this but you need Arizona and L.A. to lose just to stay ahead in the wildcard race and win if we even want to discuss playoffs. Everyone quit depending on Atlanta to have a meltdown like last year. We need to take of our games.