Another Mathematical Path To NFC South Title
December 15th, 2016
We’ve already learned the Bucs have a 69.3 percent shot at postseason action.
But what about just the paths to the NFC South title?
Joe’s written about playoff scenarios, but there’s another good one out there that was being discussed within the walls of One Buc Palace yesterday.
If the Bucs (8-5) lose to Dallas (strong possibility) and win their final two games, then they will win the NFC South crown if Atlanta (8-5) beats the 49ers Sunday and loses once to either Carolina or the Saints to end the season.
Why?
Because in that scenario, the Bucs would finish with the better division record.
Yes, don’t go jumping off a cliff if the Bucs lose Sunday night. The march to a 10-6 record would still be going strong, and that should be good enough for the playoffs.
Tampa Bay remains in great shape in the secondary Wild Card race.
Washington is 7-5-1 with remaining games at home against the Panthers and Giants, and at the Bears.
The Vikings (7-6) have home games against the Colts and Bears, and they head to Green Bay (7-6). The Packers also have road games at the Bears and Lions.
Don’t look now, but the Seahawks (8-4-1) are only a half-game up on the Bucs and Tampa Bay owns the tiebreaker for playoff seeding among division winners. Detroit is 9-4 but faces the Giants, Dallas and Green Bay to close the season.
For now, it’s on to Sunday Night Football. (Don’t forget Joe’s watch party at Abe’s Place in Clearwater. ($5.00 off your bill if you wear any kind of Bucs gear.)
December 15th, 2016 at 9:49 am
1-0 this week
December 15th, 2016 at 9:56 am
lets win the division….Washington may lose 2 out of 3…..rams always play seattle tough and may play inspired tonight….Detroit and the giants have a tough 3 game stretch…we could win our division and be the #1 or #2 seed but it all starts sunday night….GO BUCS!!!!
December 15th, 2016 at 10:06 am
just win baby….
December 15th, 2016 at 10:09 am
There’s a chance if we go 10-6 and atl wins out, we get left out of the playoffs all together. That would suck! Thefivethirty has a pretty cool interactive playoff grid. GB is a problem bc they could win out and if the lions when this week and next then lose to GB, then they are both in. Lets win this week!
December 15th, 2016 at 10:17 am
Let’s do this!!
December 15th, 2016 at 10:34 am
So hyped for this game man. Feels like a prime time playoff game
December 15th, 2016 at 10:52 am
If we win the division, I’m all for the playoffs.
December 15th, 2016 at 10:54 am
Lord Cornelius
For this team, this is a playoff game. I think the Bucs know how important it is to finish strong.
December 15th, 2016 at 10:59 am
Has anyone seen Big Dog Haynes? Do we need to do a skyway safety check?
Or maybe he found the Illini fan sites that I recommended?
December 15th, 2016 at 11:02 am
Let’s just win them all! 11-5 sounds good to me.
December 15th, 2016 at 11:23 am
Win them all.
Dirk, Todd, please get the offense going and give the D a break. They’ve been playing with their backs too close to the wall.
December 15th, 2016 at 11:30 am
The Bucs fear no one!!
December 15th, 2016 at 11:34 am
2015 Week 16 the 15-0 Panthers go into Atlanta and get their only loss of the season. 2016 Week 16 the Falcons are playoff bound & probably sit atop the NFC South and go into Carolina. Wonder if any payback is waiting?
December 15th, 2016 at 11:50 am
One week at a time. “Ifs and Buts will drive us nuts.” I noticed Florio had us 24-23 winners. It’s nice to be in the conversation for a change. Go Buc’s
December 15th, 2016 at 12:01 pm
These following 3 weeks feel like a double elimination tournament with a loss meaning the losers bracket but still alive. 2 losses and we are done. I say let us go into Dallas and get a victory, show the country that we belong in the playoffs and can make a deep run. GO BUCS!!!!! Beat up the Cowboys with your big fing sticks!!!
December 15th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
When I think back to the many posts I entered and read during the pre season and see this team right now…I could not be prouder or more pleased.
No matter what!!! We have reached a place with three games left in the season where we still control our own destiny! We don’t need any of these teams to lose.
We simply need to win our three and it’s a done deal. And reality suggests that two of three will be enough to at least back into the playoffs.
So again No Matter What….this has been a very, very enjoyable season…from the actual 8 wins…to watching a franchise QB mature into stardom…a WR approach historic marks…a defense that finally discovers itself…
I haven’t felt this good since the Super Bowl! Of course I want us to keep winning but again I must say no matter what at long last we approach an end of the football season where we don’t think the Bucs wasted the entire year and next year is just another year one of a poorly designed rebuilding plan. What a wonderful difference.
December 15th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Oh as the excitement builds! I like what Brian said at the top “1-0 this week.” Sounds good to me!
Go Bucs!!!
December 15th, 2016 at 2:50 pm
@ Love and Warrick Dunn: I keep putting it out there …3 games to play wth 1 game to win to show improvement over last year’s team! Do we get there this week? TIME TO DIG DEEP!!
December 15th, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Joe,
As you said there is a possibility that the Bucs could win the NFC South. We wont know until the season is over. If the Bucs are 4 or 5th Seed, the Wild Card game will be held in Tampa. This will occur either on 7th or 8th of January. The problem is that the College Football Championship occurs on 9 Jan in Raymond James Stadium. My guess is that NCAA has the contract taking control of the stadium by 6 Jan. Additionally, hotels will be filling up with Alabama and (whoever) fans. Not a bad problem to have, but suggest that the Tampa Sports Authority look around and see
1. Moving the Wild Card game to somewhere else (Tropicana Field or Orlando?) or
2. Delaying the Wild Card Game to Tuesday after the CFC.
Dont even get started on Gasparilla – that will happen during the NFC Championship Game when Giants come to Tampa.
Just some thoughts…..
December 15th, 2016 at 9:49 pm
Big Hog how is there no improvement over last years team? 8-5 at this point, won against 2 playoff teams, 5 game win streak and woth the 4 games left we already won one of them. The defense is playing with a swagger and confidence reminiscent of 2003 something Lovies defense never had. Koetter has done more in 13 games than Lovie did in 32. Don’t understand why at this point in time you won’t let of that
December 16th, 2016 at 11:51 am
There is so much wrong with this, where to start???
The Bucs would have to be a 3 or 4 seed to host the first round of the playoffs. The 1 and 2 seeds each get a BYE. The 3 seed hosts the 6 seed and the 4 seed hosts the 5 seed.
The NCAA does not take control of the stadium until after the NFL obligations of the stadium are complete. The Bucs are the primary tenant of Raymond James Stadium and all other events get in line behind them. You can rest assured that the Tampa Sports Authority, along with the NFL and NCAA, took the appropriate precautions to make sure there were no deal breaking scheduling conflicts. My guess is the NFL would do the NCAA a favor and have the Bucs host the early Saturday game if that conflict occurs.
Full hotels are not a problem; in fact, that would help the Bucs sell tickets to local fans that are more likely to cheer for the Bucs and provide a real home field advantage, unlike the last home playoff game vs the Giants. It would also be an awesome opportunity for the NFL to capture the attention of the visiting college football fans. (And let’s not forget that Alabama has to beat an excellent Washington team to get to the championship game.)
No, the Wild Card game would absolutely be held at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs are contractually obligated to RJS and the NCAA will have to accommodate a home playoff game.
This would never happen because it would cause the winning team to have 2 or 3 days less rest than their opponent and they would have to play again in 4 or 5 days.
Now I’m going to have to nominate you for a random drug test. 🙂