Bucs Could Be Eliminated From The Playoffs Before The End Of Sunday’s Game
December 6th, 2019
Joe just wants things crystal clear for the wildly optimistic out there.
If the Vikings win their 1 o’clock home game against the sad Lions on Sunday, the Bucs will be eliminated from this season’s NFL playoffs.
Joe sees the optimists out there on social media and hears them around town. Joe loves every last one of them but just wants to be sure they have the facts.
There are two NFC wild card spots and the Bucs already have been eliminated from one of them because Seattle and San Francisco each have 10 wins. The Bucs’ maximum win total is 9.
So that leaves one remaining spot currently held by the 8-4 Vikings. If the Vikings win Sunday, then they will move to 9-4 but they will lock down the critical conference tiebreaker against the Bucs for the final wild card spot.
Beating Detroit would move the Vikings’ record to 7-3 in the NFC, and conference record is the tiebreaker following head-to-head record. (Tampa Bay did not play the Vikings this season.) The Bucs are 4-6 in the conference with two NFC games remaining. So if Minnesota wins Sunday, the Bucs’ season is over.
Back in 2010, Tampa Bay finished in a three-way tie for the final wild card spot at 10-6 with the Giants and Packers. Each of those teams also were tied with a 8-4 record in the NFC. The Bucs lost out the next tiebreaker. You can read the official NFL tiebreakers here.
After Sunday, the Vikings still have the Chargers, Packers and Bears on their schedule.
Considering the Rams and Bears have seven wins, the Bucs have an even bigger mountain to climb then just hoping for a historic Vikings meltdown.
December 6th, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Until the Bucs are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention they should not play for the draft. I’d like to say stranger things have happened in sports but I’d be lying. It would take the most bizarre of circumstances but the possibilities are still there.
December 6th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
We were eliminated after the Tenn game unfortunately (which was off a bye)
December 6th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Like our old coach McKay said ” we are 3 or 4 plane crashes away from the playoffs”. An all time classic.
December 6th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
Playoffs? Playoffs..You kidding me?
December 6th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
you are what your record says you are………. change is coming hopefully the glazers wake the F@#&%k up
the NFL stands for…. not for long
The definition of insanity : keep doing the same thing for 5 years and hope for a differant result !!!
December 6th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
I see the old JBF optimism has reared its ugly head again. NO ONE thinks the Bucs are going to make the playoffs but take a break Debbie Downer.
December 6th, 2019 at 12:10 pm
Good…….I hope the Vikings win
Buc fans should be used to not making the Playoffs….and that’s the standard the Glazers have set forth since Malcom Glazer died……..PATHETIC!!!!!!!
December 6th, 2019 at 12:11 pm
what could have been…
1- Missed FG vs Giants (would be 6-6 right now)
2- Missed defensive TD call vs the Titans (would be 7-5)
3- Losing the OT coin toss in a shootout game vs Seattle (would be 8-4)
We also got 1 break on the non-call against the Cardinals.
Bucs life
December 6th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
2020
Yes having horrid deffence, running game and kicker for 5+ years and blaming every other single bad thing that happens on Jameis over and over needs to change.
Amen
December 6th, 2019 at 12:13 pm
Bucs were eliminated from playoffs Draft night….. anyone who thinks otherwise is living in denial…
December 6th, 2019 at 12:21 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 6th, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Until the Bucs are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention they should not play for the draft. I’d like to say stranger things have happened in sports but I’d be lying. It would take the most bizarre of circumstances but the possibilities are still there.
——————
As long as the players and coaches are hungry and want to keep their jobs they shouldn’t play for the draft. That being said, if there are some free agent Bucs that the team doesn’t plan on keeping next season, they should see the field less and less to give other players better ideas of what they can do going into the offseason. Not sure why Darian Stewart has been on the team this entire season, he’s old, he doesn’t play, and he won’t be here next season. If they don’t plan on trying to re-sign Suh, show him a seat, see what Allen and Nunes-Roches can do with more snaps, same with anybody else that won’t be with the team next season. But with the way this team is playing right now, playing for the draft would be detrimental to the young players’ growth and changing the culture here in Tampa.
December 6th, 2019 at 12:29 pm
We were long eliminated earlier in the season but doesn’t mean we don’t have anything to play for. I want to continue to see our defense play great ball in consecutive weeks and Jameis play great with a steady defense. That will give us momentum into next season. Go Bucs!
December 6th, 2019 at 12:38 pm
The only field goal that Gay had that mattered was a 32 yarder against the Giants and he whiffed. Sure he’s only missed three field goals, but that’s the only one he had when there was pressure and he durfed it. The Bucs would be in the thick of it were it not for his choke on that FG.
Still not sold on Gay.
December 6th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
So it’s a must win game for the Bucs. Good, I like it that way!
Yeah our chances suck and wouldn’t even be something I think about if not for people nonstop talking about it…..Reguardless It would be real cool if we can stay alive just at least one more week. Lot of fun to see how a team plays in a must win game. It’s a great test.
December 6th, 2019 at 1:39 pm
Even if so, you do not play for draft position.
December 6th, 2019 at 2:03 pm
^^^^
Agreed. Stupidest JBF theory ever
December 6th, 2019 at 2:10 pm
Hate to say it Joe,but the Bucs season was over after the loss to the Giants.
December 6th, 2019 at 2:40 pm
They were eliminated the moment they made the first pick in the draft in March 2015.
December 6th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
I’ll hope to see the Defense continue to improve.
I hope to see JayMiss show his true colors so Licht and Co. won’t be fooled going into the offseason.
December 6th, 2019 at 3:16 pm
Did any sane Bucs fan really believe we were going to make the playoffs given the teams terrible start to the season? The team seems to be on a roll now, and I would love for them to win out. If they did that, I would have the most optimistic outlook for the future I’ve had in a long time. Hopefully, the young guns on defense will continue to improve and we’ll plug a few holes (RB, OL, DE, S) in the draft and FA. But playoffs, forget it. Just sit back and enjoy the remaining games!
December 6th, 2019 at 3:18 pm
All those dismissing our beloved bucs playoff chances are quick to forget our own 4 game collapse to end the season in 2008 after being tied for first place in the nfc. Anything is possible.
December 6th, 2019 at 3:33 pm
Yeah if they had picked a lot of dudes man crush Mariota they’d still be in this situation. You ain’t say anything special. Jason Licht it’s the GM so don’t forget that oh not so magnificent one!
December 6th, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Realistically, Bus will never make the playoffs while JW is the QB. Stupid front office will probably franchise or re-sign him so Licht and BA can save face. If we had real owners, they would have already decided to move on from the turnover machine and the incompetent GM. Instead they signed Licht to an extension.
December 6th, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Oh Mr Free that was because the defense was mad because Monte Kiffin screwed us and left to coach with his son mid season. They laid down. It was too obvious. Plus they might have been tired of Gruddn and his used car salesman self.
December 6th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
It’s stupid for a 5-7 team to talk about the playoffs, don’t you think? Have we had a running back gain 100 yards in a game yet or consistently stopped giving up over 300 yards in passing a game? We aren’t close to being a playoff team. Get real. Go Bucs!
December 6th, 2019 at 4:31 pm
DooshLaRue Says:
December 6th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
I’ll hope to see the Defense continue to improve.
I hope to see JayMiss show his true colors so Licht and Co. won’t be fooled going into the offseason.
Wow Doosh I’m glad you finally have come to your senses about Jameis. He will indeed show his true colors, as he always has, and will leave no doubt in earning that multi year contract extension. Welcome to the non-clueless club little buddy.
December 6th, 2019 at 4:50 pm
My opinion is that the Glazers should refund at least half of the season ticket holders money due to the fact that we will play meaningless games for the next month…. of course they won’t though.
December 6th, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Why complain about it? As I recall, the Joes predicted a record that would not get them into the playoffs, along with most of you.
Also, if I am remembering right, didn’t the Bucs go 7-9 in Dungy’s first year? They were out of the playoffs but still played to win.
Want a culture change?
It also has to happen with the fans.
December 6th, 2019 at 4:54 pm
Anyone who seriously thinks this Bucs squad is worthy of playoff consideration should be a subject of the Baker Act immediately.
Peace, out
December 6th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Rob Says:
“Have we had a running back gain 100 yards in a game yet? ”
Um…yes. Rojo did around game three.
December 6th, 2019 at 5:18 pm
The Bucs playoff hopes died when Gay shanked the chip shot field goal in Game 3
I knew at the time our season was over as far as playoff hopes and that the rest of this year would be about “improving” and “evaluating”…..
December 6th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai. Um no, Jones had 80 yards rushing in his best game and hasn’t rushed for more than that in a single game since. Do your research before you try and act smart. Go Bucs
December 6th, 2019 at 7:03 pm
No one is thinking playoffs. Just do your job.
December 6th, 2019 at 7:34 pm
Our beloved Bucs…the losing-est team in NFL history 0.386 “Winning” %.
Regular Season 260 415 1 .385 Winning percentage
Postseason 6 9 0 .400 Winning percentage
Overall 266 424 1 .386 Winning percentage
How did the Saints stop sucking? Got a great coach and smart, talented QB (not flashy but doesn’t turn over the ball). They are currently the class of the NFC South and one of the top teams in the entire NFL. We should emulate them. Having a rapey, turn-over machine at QB is not a recipe for success.
December 6th, 2019 at 10:47 pm
1 Field goal did NOT put the Bucs in this position. The Bucs put themselves in it. Count the number of losses if you know how. Don’t blame Refs either. The Bucs are losers. That is why they are where they are. If you have been around any amount of time you know it. That 1 Field goal? They NEVER should have been in that position in the first place. Real teams would have put the Giants away and never let them come back.
December 7th, 2019 at 9:13 am
Playoffs!?!?!?
LoL
December 7th, 2019 at 8:43 pm
Lol, we were eliminated from the playoffs as soon as Jameis took his first snap from under center this year. I hope Jameis can rid himself of his buffoonery next year (the tag is in the bag), but I have serious doubts that he will, since he’s the same erratic qb that we drafted 5 years ago. It’s Vinny all over again, except our gm is either too stupid to admit his mistake or doesn’t want to lose face. This team taxes my patience and I am an idiot for following them for so long. 😁