Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Playoff Math On, Performance Off

With two games to go in the season, the Buccaneers are still mathematically alive. But with the injured reserve home to veteran and rookie players that have made a difference this year, odds for postseason play are dwindling.  The team could use the skills of Jeff Faine, Gerald McCoy, Aqib Talib, Cody Grimm, Quincy Black and others too.

But excuses and wishes don’t contribute much to results.  When players go down, others must step up.   

With intense scenarios abound, the biggest hurdle for the improved Buccaneers lies in the NFC South.  The Falcons (12-2) play the Saints (10-4) and then the Saints host Tampa Bay for the final game.  The Bucs can’t catch the Falcons and the Saints will have to collapse for playoff math to improve. 

The NFC math:

Atlanta (12-2)         (Plays New Orleans and Carolina)
New Orleans (10-4)     (Plays Atlanta and Tampa)
New York Giants (9-5)     (Plays Green Bay and Washington)
Green Bay Packers (8-6)     (Plays New York Giants and Chicago)

Tampa Bay (8-6)    (Plays Seattle and New Orleans)

New Orleans, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing for two wild card spots.  Only Atlanta has clinched a playoff berth.  A lot can happen…and will.   Chicago (10-4) moved into the division lead over Green Bay. Seattle (6-8) will be hungry, as they can still win their division if the Rams (6-8) don’t win it and they play each other for the final game. 

During the preseason, the final game on the schedule featured the reigning Super Bowl champs New Orleans, looking less formidable as it was expected they would be in full playoff mode and pull their starters for the final game.  That might not be the likely horizon.     

Fortunately, Tampa Bay with Josh Freeman has established itself as a comeback team, and that’s a good reputation to carry into decisive matches.  If they can add consistency to the comeback efforts, they just might beat the remaining tall math.  

Speaking of numbers, this reporter was considered a heretic by predicting in late August that Tampa Bay would get seven to nine wins this season and likely end up (8-8) and out of the playoffs.  This loony guy is probably a winner in the crystal ball contest no matter what happens.  

Still, it’s much better to be contemplating playoff tickets than to claim bragging rights amongst those who dare to predict. 

Many saw the Buccaneers repeating the (3-13) result from last year. Obviously the young team with a young coach has exceeded many expectations, and taking a .500 win record into the offseason is respectable for a rebuilding team.

Taking a 10-6 record into the final playoff berth would be much better, as the rebuilding will continue anyway. 

Hopefully, many of the dozen now on injured reserve will return to the field in full capacity with energetic resolve. 

But that’s next year. 

Right now, the goal is to play the next game.  Win against Seattle so that the next one is an intense showdown against New Orleans.  That’s the stuff of champions.  

It’s no time to think about anyone pulling starters, it’s simply time to pull out any stops.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com