Week 18 is upon us, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff chances are firmly in their own hands. It's a "win and you're in" situation for Tampa in an NFC South divisional matchup. Let's discuss the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff chances and the playoff scenarios heading into the final week of the season.
NFC Playoff Standings
The NFC Playoff picture is a bit less complicated than the AFC. The San Francisco 49ers will be the top overall seed, earning a bye. The NFC East winner will likely take the second seed. As of now, this is the Dallas Cowboys, while the Philadelphia Eagles sit in fifth. The Detroit Lions are third, while the NFC South winner will be fourth.
The one Wild Card team that has clinched the playoffs is the Los Angeles Rams. This means the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, who are all tied at 8-8, are fighting for the seventh seed, minus the team that wins the NFC South.
Let's take a look at the NFC Playoff picture. Remember, the top seven teams in the NFC Playoff standings are in, and winning the division rewards the team with a top-four seed.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playoff chances are positive right now, and that's because their playoff scenario and destiny are in their own hands. A win in Week 18 means they make the playoffs, while a loss would require other teams to lose as well.
According to PFF, the Buccaneers' playoffs chances sit at 64%. The ESPN Power Index views the Buccaneers' odds to make the playoffs more favorably, at 72.6%. This model also gives the Bucs a 31% chance to win a playoff game this year. Let's take a look at the Buccaneers' playoff scenarios.
The easiest way to make the playoffs is for Tampa to defeat Carolina this weekend. They would also make the postseason with a tie, though nobody wants to see that. A tie from Tampa, plus losses from the Packers and Seahawks, would mean the Bucs make the playoffs.
Can the Buccaneers Make the Playoffs?
Can the Buccaneers make the playoffs? The answer is absolutely yes! In fact, if the playoffs started today, Tampa Bay would be in the dance!
The Buccaneers face the Panthers on the road on Sunday, and a win would clinch a playoff berth. Carolina has lost eight of their past nine games. This includes a close 21-18 loss to Tampa. In other words, the Buccaneers cannot sleep on the Panthers this weekend.
Obviously, the Buccaneers' road to the playoffs is in their own hands. You can bet on the Buccaneers' playoff odds in either direction ahead of this weekend's matchup.
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