Bucs Clinch 2nd Place; Saints Lose Top Seed
December 13th, 2020
It was a very eventful Sunday in the NFC South, and for more than the reasons Joe mentioned in the headline.
First the Bucs have clinched at least a second-place finish in the NFC South, as Tampa Bay upped its record to 8-5 while the Falcons and Panthers lost to bad teams and fell to 4-9 with three games remaining.
For you perpetual schedule watchers, that means the Bucs are just about certain to play the second-place finisher in the NFC North and in the NFC West next season. Tampa Bay will play the entire NFC East and the AFC East teams in 2021.
Thanks to the Saints’ defense getting gutted by the Eagles for 413 yards today in a stunning 24-21 upset, New Orleans (10-3) has not locked up the NFC South title yet. But more important, the Saints no longer hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That now belongs to the Packers (10-3), which beat the Saints earlier this season.
Joe has a twisted hope that the Bucs face the Saints in the wild card round of the playoffs. First, Joe thinks it’s very tough to beat a team three times in one season. Second, Joe would love for Bucs fans to have the opportunity to attend the playoff game. The Saints allow fans; the Packers, Seahawks and Redskins do not).
And lastly, if Drew Brees is still hurt or healing, then Joe would consider that an advantage for the Bucs.
December 13th, 2020 at 7:59 pm
By my math (which could be wrong), the Bucs by winning 1 more game would clinch a spot with any Bears loss.
They could sneak in at 8-8 with 2 losses by the Bears, and 1 loss each by the Vikings, Giants (or WFT, depending on who gets NFC East Champ), Lions, and 49ers.
10 wins guarantees a spot now.
Of course, I hope Ronde Barber is right and they win out for 11-5.
December 13th, 2020 at 7:59 pm
I like that pic of LVD (one of my favorite Buc players of all time). He looks like he’s thinking “what….the playoffs? I will actually play in one????” So the sorry Eagles beat the Aints….well, well, well, on any given Sunday…. 🙂
December 13th, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Win every game and they’ll be playing in the Super Bowl!
December 13th, 2020 at 8:12 pm
The punk Saints blew it, what a joke! Dumbasses Payton and Dennis Allen couldn’t coach their way out of a wet paper bag. Absolute idiot Allen didn’t have the defense set the edge even 1 time and as a result the Eagles ran for at least 10 first downs. pathetic joke beyond belief! choke artist Saints blew it ! A total despicable beyond belief nightmare!
December 13th, 2020 at 8:30 pm
As far as playoffs….I don’t care who we play…..I don’t care where we play……I do care how we play and that we play….
This is the time of year when teams have everything to lose and nothing to lose…..any team loves to be a spoiler…..can’t take any game lightly.
December 13th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
First quarter was a debacle. I’m not as confident as I should be. We make the playoff and stick with the same “gameplay” and were screwed.
Pistol
December 13th, 2020 at 8:42 pm
Listening to some Bucs ‘fans’ here on this site makes me sick to my stomach.
Fake fans is what I say.
Nitpick, nitpick, nitpick from your couches. Jeesh Flipin H. Christ!!!!!
You can’t have been a fan very long if you can’t be happy with 8 and 5 with both sides of the ball trending up. NO we are not the Chiefs, Steelers, or Bills. However, we have a chance to do what no Bucs team has done in over a decade.
SMDH at you. You know who you are.
December 13th, 2020 at 9:18 pm
It’s very hard for a team to beat another 3 times in the same year, but with Tampa getting beat both games where the opening kickoff was the closest part of game…. Tampa wants no part of that. I’d rather see them play the rams. That game they had a chance to win even with it looking like a mess most of the game. Tampa needs to start winning games, instead of like today, when the Vikings gave it to them. Need to find a way to start hot like the beginning of the year.
December 13th, 2020 at 9:37 pm
SB, now just a minute bud. I’ve been a fan since Day 1. I’m happy as hell that the team is likely to make the playoffs for the first time in forever. But that doesn’t mean I can’t be critical of play calling or performance. I was rooting my ass off the whole game, but I didn’t like some of the things I saw. Brady was way off on several passes that could have gone for major yardage. The D was not making tackles early in the game. So yeah, I can be critical if it’s called for. Everyone’s been saying from the get go that this team has Super Bowl talent and that’s what they’re built for. But they’re not playing like a legit SB contender right now. Are you going to be satisfied if they’re one and out in the playoffs? I won’t. So take a little Malox for that upset stomach. Hope you feel better soon.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:00 pm
YOU LIKE THAT?!!!!!!! You LIKE THAT?!!!!!!! F u Kirk!!!!! LFG
December 13th, 2020 at 10:05 pm
Dude because that idiot saying that in the tunnel, he took top hated qb even over scam Newton
December 13th, 2020 at 10:06 pm
I would rather face the Packers than the Saints. We can beat the Packers, but the Saints not only have our number, but match up well against us.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:07 pm
Barrett, JPP and Suh played like pro’s in the second half but White’s play has slipped over the past 4 games. He needs to start making big plays. He has the speed to do it. I’m concerned that not using him as a blitzed is holding back this defense. Every mid level QB has too many easy completions. The Vikings hardly punted at all today. They outgained the Bucs and held the ball much longer. Only the timely sacks and missed FG’s kept the lead.
There has to be a point where the team is prepared to play a solid 60 minutes of football.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:14 pm
Agree with Ed. I feel like there could be more contact at the line to re direct the receivers a little and mix in a little spy blitz packages with Devin and lavonte to use their speed. Even Winfield. Helmets cracking though. Thank goodness for the win.
December 13th, 2020 at 10:40 pm
Sorry Joe the Saints are the last I want to be seeing in the playoffs. Based on those last 2 games it feels like we could play the Saints 100 times and they would beat us 99 times.
We do not matchup well against them at all. We cant block their Dline and Drew Brees will dink and dunk us to death again.
I want to 5th seed to play Washington or NY.
December 13th, 2020 at 11:08 pm
SB…I concur.
Whiny lil bitches.
December 13th, 2020 at 11:13 pm
“Tampa Bay will play the entire NFC East and the AFC East teams in 2021.”
.
.
From where we sit right now, that sounds rather advantageous! Sweet.
December 13th, 2020 at 11:18 pm
Look out for Washington too, suddenly who wants to face this team now 1st round? Listen there’s no easy out in the NFL playoffs, and the Bucs will have to beat 2 or 3 of the Saints, Packers, Rams or Seahawks.
It ain’t perfect yet, but if they can build momentum off how they played today I think there’s a real shot!
December 13th, 2020 at 11:50 pm
Begging to put Brady on the COVID-19 list in the middle of the playoffs huh, Joe. Sick ole Sean Payton has Bruce Arians playbook in his pocket. Could definitely whoop our arse three times in a row so I’ll pass on the Saints. Whatta you know RoJo got 20 carries for 80 yards and a TD. The ghost of Scotty had a beautiful catch for 48 yard TD. He was targeted twice…SMH. Who’d thunk we got away with a lucky win. A W is a W but the four shanks were a life saver. JPP is the best player on this lagging defense. Sorry to tell you Joe BUCK but Devin White is not a great LB in coverage. Still getting pushed under by the national media not doing any real research but now we finally got a chance to the playoffs so I don’t give a flyin sh!t.
GO BUCS…14! 15! 16!!!
December 14th, 2020 at 1:46 am
Which Joe is it that can’t remember the name of the Washington football team?
December 14th, 2020 at 2:28 am
whether his name is david lavonte or lavonte david…
me luv vonte !
December 14th, 2020 at 9:43 am
SB: Your comment is awaiting moderation.,
Amen! Amen! Amen! … to what you said.
Go Bucs. Playoffs are now!
December 14th, 2020 at 11:24 am
Oh yes, I can’t wait to see the Saints D-line throw us around like ragdolls and embarrass us out of the playoffs in round 1.
But hey at least some fans will be happy with one and done, for some reason…
December 14th, 2020 at 11:57 am
Has anyone even considered if the Buccaneers win out 11-5 and the Saints lose all the rest 10-5 the Buccaneers win division. It’s possible being the Saints have a harder final 3 games.