Bucs Playoff Hopes Get A Boost
December 3rd, 2019
Remember those crazed, playoff-hopeful Bucs optimists Joe wrote about three weeks ago, they were seen marching through downtown Dunedin in the wee hours this morning.
Why would they do such a thing?
No, they weren’t celebrating the Bucs’ running game, they were in ecstasy because the Vikings (8-4) lost to the Seahawks on Monday Night Football and that kept the Bucs’ hopes for a Wild Card berth alive and well.
Per NFL.com, the Bucs are the top team with a 5-7 record when it comes to playoff tiebreaker terms, so they’re actually ahead of the Panthers and Eagles.
Unfortunately, the Vikings, currently hold the final wild card seed and only have one team with a winning record remaining on their schedule: Green Bay.
The Bears (6-6) are a game ahead of the Bucs, and they do have a game remaining against the Vikings. The Rams (7-5) are a game behind Minnesota, but the Bucs do own the head-to-head tiebreaker against Los Angeles. The Rams have a very tough schedule ahead (Seahawks, Cowboys, 49ers, Cardinals), so there’s real hope for the diehard Bucs optimists there.
Of course, every Bucs playoff fantasy requires the Bucs to win out and finish 9-7. And that will be the toughest task of all.
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:37 am
I believe……………………………in Santa Claus!
December 3rd, 2019 at 4:42 am
The odds are better that Santa Claus actually exists and will literally squeeze his fat ass down my chimney this year than the odds of the Bucs making the playoffs. I guess some fans can dream though, right?
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:00 am
I can’t believe you wrote that with a straight face Joe. Yup, Yup, look out playoffs, here we come.
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:12 am
aw geez joe
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:17 am
….so you’re saying there’s a chance….
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:23 am
Meaningful games in December. Bucco Bruce is delivering.
December 3rd, 2019 at 5:34 am
cold day in heck – it aint happening – but a great hype point for BA for the off-season
“you know, we are young and everyone was learning a new system and it takes time, but we were still in the hunt in Dec and that’s what lets us know we are on the right track”
Yes the D looks improved, and yes we have the best WR tandem in the NFL
This team and playoffs do not belong in the same sentence, unless NOT is clearly in front of IN THE
Maybe next year….
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:03 am
Man, when you think about the scheduling odds stacked against us, the multiple games we all agree “should” have been won by the Bucs if we didn’t beat ourselves and the SH!TTY play calling by the refs that absolutely cost us at least two games (more like three), you have to give credit where credit is due.
We truly are a good football team.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:16 am
Love it… At this point we’re not getting top 5 draft pick. A nice win streak and a late season”playoff push” could inject some excitement into this organization. Love my Hope-aneers!
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:21 am
One…game…at…a…time!
Lets beat the team in front of us first. If it shakes out, it shakes out.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:37 am
LOL!
Man, are we hard up or what?
Playoffs? LOL!
Just enjoy a 2 game win streak, my God it’s been a long time.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:52 am
Playoffs? There’s a column for division leaders…..then there’s those in the wild card column….then there’s a column for those in the hunt…..The Bucs are in the 4th column with the odds in the single digits. We likely make a little push….and then look back on games like the Giants at home where we couldn’t beat a rookie backup wondering “what if”. Then we’ll head to the offseason with high hopes…again.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:56 am
……… And que Jim Mora “PLAYOFFS!?!?!?!?!”…….in that high pitched voice
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:57 am
What we need is some voodoo magic mon. Need Dalvin Cooks clavicle to explode on 1st contact and then Kirk Cousins shoulder to be driven into the turf on Sunday. That’s about the only way I see Minnesota losing out. And then the Bucs still have to win out. But a fan can dream eh?
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:58 am
Joe has officially fell off the deep end
Cmon meng…. Gtfo!!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:00 am
It’s pretty much a fact that if you’re not atleast a. 500 team in December……you have no shot at the playoffs
Bucs fans are used to this
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:02 am
Bruh if you’re going to do that then you have the qualify it. Like 15% chance we win out (optimistically). Like 10% chance the Vikings do what we need. Even if it’s 30% that cowboys Rams Bears do what we need, we are easily talking less than 1% likelihood. This article needed Vegas odds sprinkled in.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:07 am
Split the season into quarters. 2-2 0-4 3-1. 4-0 over the last 4 games isn’t impossible, especially since we seem to be showing improvements on defense.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:11 am
that kept the Bucs’ hopes for a Wild Card berth alive and well.
Alive….but certainly not well.
But, it’s better than playing for the draft.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:22 am
Forget playing for the draft win out boys an if the stars align then we in the playoffs #endthedrought
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:27 am
You know what? We’re in December talking playoff chances and not draft position. I’ll take it…
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:29 am
We should be 6-6 or 7-9 right now. If our secondary played the first halve of the season like they are playing now we would be in the hunt. 3 games we could of won.
Giants- Make a kick, game won.
Tennessee – Refs stole that one from us by blowing the play dead.
Seattle – We get the coin toss, we score on our first possession and win.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:31 am
Whenever the bucs have a sniff at the playoffs or get to a “meaningful” game bad jameis always shows up and the bucs lay an egg; so bet the colts heavily
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:38 am
Seattle and San francisco hold the tie breaker and have already won ten games. Green Bay and Minnesota are going to win at least ten games. I don’t know where this playoff BS came from.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:40 am
BridleOaks Buc Says:
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:27 am
You know what? We’re in December talking playoff chances and not draft position. I’ll take it…
Well said. C’mon man, at least is not tanking we’re reading about but yet you STILL complain. Assign fans.
Trolls!
Go BUCS
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:45 am
quit being so negative. That’s not a “I’m a realist” your just miserable people. Damn some of y’all suck
Joe give em articles on draft talk then
Fu<king losers
Go BUCS
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:52 am
When was the last time Bucs fans got to even dream of playoffs in December?
Go 9-7 and let the fans enjoy winning for a change. I’m just glad Sunday ticket doesn’t feel like a complete waste. Again.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:52 am
5-7 says it all about playoff chances.
December 3rd, 2019 at 7:58 am
its a nice pipe dream.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:07 am
yeah there is a legitimate path to make the playoffs, but as you say the bucs would have to run the table, we got a leg up with the viking loss, let us see if the lions can give us a helping hand, sunday followed by the chargers on the 18th, i am being facetious but if detroit and the chargers beat the vikes and then they face the packers, and the bucs win their next two there will be a lot of post season chatter going on
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:12 am
I still remember when Gruden’s bucs were 9-3 and lost the last 4 games to miss the playoffs. Would be a really nice twist of fate if it happened to the Vikings and we got in.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:24 am
This is fantasy…. the Vikings will have top have an absolute meltdown and lose the rest of their fans for us to get their spot. Bucs are done and should have won a couple of those close games and even still they would be on the outside looking in
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:32 am
This is nice. It’s December, and we haven’t been officially eliminated. Pleasant change.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:39 am
But Carson Wentz is AMAZZZZZZIIIING, RIGHT??? Lol!!
As an eagle fan it hurts to type.
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:50 am
Talking playoffs in December!!!! Baby steps…..
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:53 am
WyomingBucsFan Says:
December 3rd, 2019 at 8:12 am
I still remember when Gruden’s bucs were 9-3 and lost the last 4 games to miss the playoffs. Would be a really nice twist of fate if it happened to the Vikings and we got in.
—————————————————————————————–
Dude,
I was there at Ray J for that last game against the raiders where we lost and we got eliminated from a chance at the playoffs.
* It was hot as hell that day
* Rhonde Barber and Derrick Brooks looked like old men out there
* Little did I know Gruden would get fired
That’s what I remembered besides the fact that the Raiders played spoilers
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:00 am
If I remember correctly the Packers got the tiebreaker on us to make the playoffs. Then they won the Super Bowl.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:05 am
Let the Bucs win out 9-7. That’s what I want to see–improvement in each game. Whatever on the payoffs.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:07 am
Wish we had Dalvin Cook for the stretch run.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:24 am
A 9-7 finish would be a great thing playoffs or not.
December 3rd, 2019 at 9:39 am
The defense definitely is looking a lot better. I hope they make the right moves this offseason. Sign JPP and try to sign Barrett if possible. Sign or draft a younger tackle/end to replace suh. Sign an experience secondary player for depth. Sign a backup OT and draft Dotsons reolacement. Do whatever with Winston sign him let him walk.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:02 am
Super Bowl 51: 28-3 halfway through the third quarter.
Just ask the goats. You don’t quit until it’s over
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:26 am
just keep winning – GO BUCS!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:42 am
hope we win out….
but i think vikings only need 1 more win to lock up the wild card berth….
we’ll see what happens….
GO BUCS!!!!
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:44 am
As John Mckay stated and 99 tweeted ” two or three plane crashes and we are in the playoffs”
Go Bucs
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:03 am
Famous Jameis has had two of his best games for the Bucs in the last two games. If somehow he turns into NOSBOS’ fantasy, then we have a “still breathing” chance to go 9-7. I never thought I would say that this year. However, I doubt either will happen. Leopards don’t change their spots.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:04 am
I wouldn’t bet on it. Between Indy and Houston we will lose at least once more. This season is a lesson in #MissedOpportunities:
Giants
Seahawks
Followed closely by the Titans and 49ers games. We’re 2 – 3 plays away from being 7-5 or even 8-4
What could have been…. Oh well.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:09 am
Crazy playoff scenarios are as stupid as crazy draft scenarios. But a huge waste of time. Let’s worry about beating the Colts that’s it.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:09 am
Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? We talkin about Plaaayoffs!?!
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:10 am
We partially paid the light bill and got abnb extension on the rest so life support is still kicking.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:22 am
NFL Network has the Bucs listed as “In The Hunt” when they post the playoff picture.
Just sayin’.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:42 am
Houston will put an end to this easy. If the Colts don’t do it first.
December 3rd, 2019 at 11:55 am
Colts are garbage but even if we end up 9-7 or win out it’s irrelevant. Looking at Vikings schedule the next game is lions who are on third quarterback no way they lose that we can’t possibly leap them. I think they still play bears and rams who are ahead of us anyway so if they lose we still have two other teams that we have to get over besides vikings.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Stop it our season ended a month ago.
December 3rd, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Thanks for the info Joe. I knew we still had a small chance at the wild card I just didn’t know what needed to be done.
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:00 pm
Y’all talking about “what if” games we should’ve won..
Everyone fails to mention BOTH games against the Saints.
I’ve never seen such JACKASS officiating in my life against the Bucs in those games. From recovered fumble errors to ridiculous offensive PI errors on ME13 when the DB lines up offsides to start with.
Those failures by the officials were MOMENTUM-CHANGERS!!
That’s what this game is about…the swing in momentum.
Those crap calls killed our ability to create or to maintain momentum.
I don’t EVER wanna hear a Saints fan complain about bad calls again.
I may have to throat-punch ‘em
December 3rd, 2019 at 2:48 pm
Sooooo – the Bucs have to win out…
and
– The Vikings have to lose at least 3 of their 4 remaining games.
and
– The Rams have to lose at least 2 games
and
– The Bears have to lose 2 games – but also get a win vs Minnesota
and
– Eagles and Panthers have to lose at least 1 more game
I think unfortunately, the first item on that list – the one we can actually control – is the least likely of all those requirements….
12 years… man its hard to remember what playoff excitement even feels like
December 3rd, 2019 at 3:42 pm
If Gay had made his super easy kick against the Giants…
If the refs don’t blow the call in Tennessee….
If the defense can do anything in OT in Seattle….
The Bucs are that close to being 8-4.
But they should, at the very worst, be 6-6 right now.
December 3rd, 2019 at 6:06 pm
You’re finally starting to sound like a true Bucs fan. When you were talking about the Bucs folding to get a good draft spot I was starting to wonder.
December 3rd, 2019 at 10:52 pm
CLICKBAIT!
December 4th, 2019 at 6:29 am
Which is the more formidable task…the Bucs making the playoffs, or Wisconsin beating Ohio State? Probably the later.