What are the odds that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers run it back and make the playoffs this season?
There’s a phrase in football that makes Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or even the occasional Saturday worth watching: “Any Given Sunday.”
That one phrase is synonymous with football no matter the level, the opponent, or the predictions from the analysts. It’s anybody’s game to win or lose. For the Bucs, that saying means a lot more going into the second half of the NFL Season. As it stands, they sit in second place in the NFC South with a 4-6 record while holding a measly 1-2 record within the division. Any hopes of winning a fourth-straight NFC South title is out the window barring a collapse by the Falcons mirroring the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles.
(And we all know how their season ended.. a 32-9 blowout loss in the wildcard round in Tampa)
So here’s the question; what is the Buccaneers’ path into the playoffs?
The first 10 games of the season mostly consisted of opponents that made the 2023 playoffs. The Lions, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and 49ers are all widely recognized as Super Bowl contenders.
The Buccaneers have shown they can compete with the best teams, only losing by an average of 4.5 points over the past four weeks. The win-loss record of the Bucs’ previous opponents comes out to a 63-33 record with a .656 win percentage.
After a much-needed Week 11 bye, the Bucs head into MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to play the New York Giants. The Giants sit at 2-8, and that’s just the start of it. The remaining teams on the schedule are as follows: the Panthers (3-7), Raiders (2-7), Chargers (6-3), Cowboys (3-6), and Saints (3-7). The Bucs’ remaining opponents combine for a win-loss record of 22-45 and a .328 win percentage.
Going 5-2 and finishing 9-8 again isn’t going to cut it for the Bucs if they want to find themselves in the postseason. The good news going into the bye week is that the Buccaneers have a chance to get healthy. Mike Evans is slated to return to action in Week 12. Jamel Dean is anticipated to make his return sooner than later.
It’s more than just getting healthy. The Bucs need to fix the small things, and the defense has to show up and improve heavily. Meanwhile, the offense has to score early and often and close games out.
If that happens, Tampa might find themselves playing meaningful football in late January, and maybe even going into Early February.
What are the odds that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers run it back and make the playoffs this season?
There’s a phrase in football that makes Sunday, Monday, Thursday, or even the occasional Saturday worth watching: “Any Given Sunday.”
That one phrase is synonymous with football no matter the level, the opponent, or the predictions from the analysts. It’s anybody’s game to win or lose. For the Bucs, that saying means a lot more going into the second half of the NFL Season. As it stands, they sit in second place in the NFC South with a 4-6 record while holding a measly 1-2 record within the division. Any hopes of winning a fourth-straight NFC South title is out the window barring a collapse by the Falcons mirroring the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles.
(And we all know how their season ended.. a 32-9 blowout loss in the wildcard round in Tampa)
So here’s the question; what is the Buccaneers’ path into the playoffs?
The first 10 games of the season mostly consisted of opponents that made the 2023 playoffs. The Lions, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and 49ers are all widely recognized as Super Bowl contenders.
The Buccaneers have shown they can compete with the best teams, only losing by an average of 4.5 points over the past four weeks. The win-loss record of the Bucs’ previous opponents comes out to a 63-33 record with a .656 win percentage.
After a much-needed Week 11 bye, the Bucs head into MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to play the New York Giants. The Giants sit at 2-8, and that’s just the start of it. The remaining teams on the schedule are as follows: the Panthers (3-7), Raiders (2-7), Chargers (6-3), Cowboys (3-6), and Saints (3-7). The Bucs’ remaining opponents combine for a win-loss record of 22-45 and a .328 win percentage.
Going 5-2 and finishing 9-8 again isn’t going to cut it for the Bucs if they want to find themselves in the postseason. The good news going into the bye week is that the Buccaneers have a chance to get healthy. Mike Evans is slated to return to action in Week 12. Jamel Dean is anticipated to make his return sooner than later.
It’s more than just getting healthy. The Bucs need to fix the small things, and the defense has to show up and improve heavily. Meanwhile, the offense has to score early and often and close games out.
If that happens, Tampa might find themselves playing meaningful football in late January, and maybe even going into Early February.
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