Cardinals Collapse Drops Bucs To No. 4 Seed
December 26th, 2021
The goal remains the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs, and a No. 2 seed would be sweet, but the pressure has intensified.
The Cardinals (10-5) lost at home last night on a late touchdown to the Colts (9-6). That was Arizona’s second loss in a row and they have faded into second place in the NFC West behind the Rams (10-4). Los Angeles heads to Minnesota (7-7) for a 1 p.m. kickoff today.
With the Rams taking over first place and the Bucs, Rams and Cowboys having the same record, the Bucs currently have dropped to the the No. 4 seed in the NFC playoff race based on tiebreaker rules. Obviously, the season does not end today, but the status change emphasized how the Bucs must win all their remaining games.
The Packers (12-3) are comfortably perched atop the NFC race after beating Cleveland yesterday. Joe’s not worried about the Packers since they are so good at choking in the playoffs. Aaron Rodgers has a 7-8 record in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl 11 years ago.
Dallas faces the Washington Heinickes tonight. The Cowboys beat them by a touchdown two weeks ago at Washington.
December 26th, 2021 at 8:50 am
The only team that can catch the Packers is Dallas for #1 seed. In order for Bucs to get #2 seed is if Dallas loses one and Bucs win out. I am not sure about the #’s for the Rams and where they stand, I know the would win the tie breaker against Bucs. AZ has two more tough games so their toast.
December 26th, 2021 at 8:55 am
That’s weird bc it feels like every time you say, “I’m not worried about X team,” or something to that effect we take an embarrassing L.
December 26th, 2021 at 8:58 am
The bucs road map to the #2 seed is simple now that the cardinals have lost.
1. the rams need to lose 1 game (vikes, ravens, 49ers)
2. packers need to win out (vikes, lions)
3. bucs need to win out.
the main thing for the bucs is to avoid 3 way ties that cant win because of their conference record…
so if bucs finish 13-4, packers lose 1 to go 13-4 and dallas wins out to go 13-4 bucs fall to #3 because of conderence record even though they beat dalls
so if packers, bucs, cowboys all in out
pack 14-3
bucs 13-4
cowboys 13-4
then bucs get 2 seed because head to head is 1st tie breaker when only 2 teams are tied
if pack lose 1 game and rest win our and packers, bucs, cowboys and rams are all 13-4 then bucs fall to 4 on conference record.
so its simple – bucs need to win out, packers need to win last 2 and rams just need to drop 1 and bucs are #2
Bucs CANT get to #2 if rams win out no matter who is tied because of a head to head loss and rams have a better record so a rams loss and bucs keep winning are #1 goal
December 26th, 2021 at 9:11 am
If the saints go 2-1 in their next 3 games, the Rams can have the 2 seed, bc that’s who they’ll play.
December 26th, 2021 at 9:21 am
Can we stop assuming the packers will choke? I hope it happens but you’re basing it off of nothing and no rational analysis. It isn’t like all of their losses have been choke jobs unless you assume any loss in football a choke? It isn’t like Aaron Rodgers has thrown a ton of picks and folded in the spotlight. #2 would be a good seed let’s keep winning
December 26th, 2021 at 9:38 am
You’re right Joe Packers always enjoy getting comfortable a top the NFC. So comfortable they constantly choke every year.
December 26th, 2021 at 9:41 am
Dont feel great about bucs chances this year . All that was needed was to split with saints and beat redskins . Not sure if thats super bowl material. Antonio Brown will have to ball out
December 26th, 2021 at 9:42 am
Id rather be in packers position home field , one week off, and beating teams you are supposed to beat
December 26th, 2021 at 9:46 am
Who cares about seeding at this point? They aren’t even in yet.
December 26th, 2021 at 9:48 am
Stop ‘not worried about…’. Death sentence.
December 26th, 2021 at 9:49 am
I am going to guess here that if we win today and lock up the division. They will rest players the next 2 weeks and stay at 4 seed. Bruce doesn’t care who he plays he just wants a healthy team entering playoffs.
December 26th, 2021 at 9:53 am
This is the price the Bucs pay for crapping themselves twice against the Saints and once against WFT. Just win out and go into the playoffs healthy. I’ll take #2 and run like a thief as that would qualify for a second home game if we can win in the wildcard round.
December 26th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Bucs win out all the way to the SB. No one can beat TB12 in the playoffs. Not worried about seeding.
December 26th, 2021 at 10:15 am
Cleveland SHOULD have beat the Packers, but they abandoned the run, and put the game in Baker Mayfield’s hands, and look what happened ? 4 Interceptions!
No wonder why OJ Beckham wanted out of Cleveland. Baker Mayfield cost them that game!
December 26th, 2021 at 10:31 am
Well the refs did kinda ignore the rules on 2 of those picks…
December 26th, 2021 at 10:38 am
thanks buctank
December 26th, 2021 at 10:39 am
Yes Mike. Blame Mayfield all u want those were clear penalties not called. I’m sure the league will be apologizing today. Anyway Rodgers is a cry baby choke artist so going into GB isn’t a biggy. And still more to play so I’m not counting out number 1 seed
December 26th, 2021 at 10:42 am
We DO NOT want to go to Green Bay again! Rodgers is playing great.
December 26th, 2021 at 10:43 am
Aaron Rodgers is as big of a tool as they come, but to say you aren’t concerned with the Packers based off previous years is silly.
December 26th, 2021 at 10:53 am
Chris, Mayfield lost that game and Haughbaug not kicking FG 1st series in GB game on a 4th & goal from the 4 and and going for 2 end of game instead of going into OT. GB should of lost last two games.
December 26th, 2021 at 11:04 am
Watched Packers/Browns entire game and it was hard to watch another coach (Browns) get outcoached by insistence to not attack the weakness of the Packers and run Nick Chubb 30 times in that game.
Green Bay was getting gashed the entire game. The stats showed that Chubb and Johnson averaged 10 yards per carry. Mayfield was clearly off target and took stupid sacks in field goal range.
Browns could have avoided the turnovers had they let those backs pound and keep Rodgers on the bench rather than turning the ball over at midfield.
To make the ending more tough to watch, on the most critical play of the game with 50 seconds left the obvious holding call with trailing Packer DB grabbing WR and slowing down route which ended game in interception.
Flagrant holding shouldn’t end game with easy replay it’s automatic first down and keeps Browns in game. Terrible missed call!
December 26th, 2021 at 11:13 am
All the Bucs have to do is win out and hope the rams lose another game which is possible and they get the second seed. They have the tiebreaker over dallas.
December 26th, 2021 at 11:15 am
Bucstank
Good work my friend!
December 26th, 2021 at 11:19 am
If the bucs win today and the rams lose to the vikings they’re the second seed.
December 26th, 2021 at 11:33 am
I don’t get why we aren’t ahead of the Cowboys when we have the exact same record and we beat them head-to-head….
That’s pretty silly if you ask me
December 26th, 2021 at 11:38 am
We shall see if Arians can fully commit to running the ball , my bet is he cannot. It will be a major task to win if BA does not play to the teams’ strength , which is now. running the ball.
December 26th, 2021 at 11:49 am
Baker mayfield doesn’t even belong on the field. He gave The Packers that game. Not once but FOUR TIMES.
December 26th, 2021 at 12:04 pm
a lot can happen and change in 3 weeks…
3 weeks up until this season, was one game short of 25% of the season…
relax, mack, kick back and enjoy the brady show…and let’s see how it goes…
it’s still a great time to be a bucs fan…
soak in it…soak it up peoples
December 26th, 2021 at 12:14 pm
JGhotier they’re ahead of the cowboys. They own the tiebreaker against them.
December 26th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
How is conference record ahead of head to head? That’s bullsh*t. I thought head to head was ahead of conference record?
December 26th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
Francisco Guzman,
Did you just see Joe say that we dropped to the #4 seed?!? Meaning we are the last seed of all the Division Leaders….
Also, google the official NFL Playoff seeding as it sits right now. We are behind the Cowboys.
December 26th, 2021 at 1:04 pm
I didnt see this coming last night. I cant believe we gotta root for the flippin Vikings.
I agree with the over confidence in the Packers choking. I cant think of anything more jinxing than being 100% for sure in anything sports related. Joe I remember last year you were puffing your chest at karma with the Packers talk but this year you turned it up a notch. Now your practically begging her to slap you, and we will be guilty by association. lol
December 26th, 2021 at 4:25 pm
The Packers beating Cleveland?! You mean the Packers being handed a game. Complete BS. Horrible calls once again from these amazing officials!
December 27th, 2021 at 4:24 pm
I’m not concerned, we can win in Green Bay and let’s get on with it!