The Bucs’ Troubling Playoff Picture

[Morgan]

Damn, the Bucs took a punch in the gut this weekend – and with the Redskins’ Monday night victory – as it relates to their playoff hopes and dreams.

At 6-6, the Bucs are a game back of Seattle in the hunt for the final NFC Wild Card spot, except now the Bucs are tied with the Vikings, Redskins and Cowboys. Sadly, the Bucs lose the usually critical head-to-head tiebreaker with Washington and Dallas.

Also, the Bucs now have one more loss in NFC conference play than Seattle and Washington. Conference record is one of the secondary tiebreakers after head-to-head results.

It’s safe to assume the Bucs will need to win their final four and go 10-6 to get into the postseason. Except for Minnesota, their competition doesn’t exactly have brutal schedules, and Seattle has three of its final four at home, where the Seahawks are always tough to beat.

    SEAHAWKS (7-5) SCHEDULE
    ARIZONA
    @Buffalo
    49ers
    RAMS

    VIKINGS (6-6) SCHEDULE
    BEARS
    @ Rams
    @ Houston
    PACKERS

    DALLAS (6-6) SCHEDULE
    @Cincy
    PITTSBURGH
    NEW ORLEANS
    @Washington

    REDSKINS (6-6) SCHEDULE
    BALTIMORE
    @Browns
    @Eagles
    DALLAS

It’s one week at a time, and it’s a good thing that the Skins and Dallas still must face each other. But the odds are flimsy that the Bucs land in the postseason with a 9-7 record.http://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=79243

[cyberdude558]

I said it last week. That Atlanta game killed our playoff hopes.

Lose any of the last 4 and season is over.

[TheChronicHotAir]

I said it last week. That Atlanta game killed our playoff hopes.

Lose any of the last 4 and season is over.

2010 & 2012

[Morgan]

We're doomed anyway since

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after big win: God is on our side

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/04/washington-redskins-beat-new-york-giants-17-16-with-robert-griffin-iii-rgiii-rg3/1744745/

[Bucpride5]

We're doomed anyway since

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after big win: God is on our side

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/04/washington-redskins-beat-new-york-giants-17-16-with-robert-griffin-iii-rgiii-rg3/1744745/

Time for the Bucs to recruit Thor then.

[sunrisejeff]

If we can not beat teams like the Eagles, Rams, Saints and a likely backup Falcons we don't deserve the playoffs anyways.

[blind melon]

If we can not beat teams like the Eagles, Rams, Saints and a likely backup Falcons we don't deserve the playoffs anyways.

Truth.


As for season being over?...   not until that last snap.

Savor it people, we've got a young, talented team who believe they can do it.     It's a LOOOONG offseason.   I love the draft talk as much as anyone, but nothing compares to in season game day.

[FreeHawk]

We're doomed anyway since

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after big win: God is on our side

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/04/washington-redskins-beat-new-york-giants-17-16-with-robert-griffin-iii-rgiii-rg3/1744745/

Time for the Bucs to recruit Thor then.

Where will we put him? Running back? Nose tackle? All of the positions?

[youngone]

It's crazy that at the end the things Seattle can probably get in ahead of us because of that fluke Monday night game against Green Bay. We can thank the NFL for that one.

[usmc-buc]

We're doomed anyway since

Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after big win: God is on our side

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/04/washington-redskins-beat-new-york-giants-17-16-with-robert-griffin-iii-rgiii-rg3/1744745/

Time for the Bucs to recruit Thor then.

I think Clay Mathews is locked up in Green Bay for the next few years.

[JDouble]

I'm done thinking playoffs for this season. The last two weeks were go time. We had our window and we flailed. Now it's just about finishing strong and getting better for next year.

[JDouble]

It's crazy that at the end the things Seattle can probably get in ahead of us because of that fluke Monday night game against Green Bay. We can thank the NFL for that one.

The Seahawks held the Greenbay Packers to 4 field goals in that game. They may have been the recipients of a bad call at the end, but they put them in a position to win in that game. They also beat the Patriots in a shoot out. Then the Seahawks went into Chicago and beat the Bears when they needed it most. That is why they will get in the playoffs. They rose up and took their opportunity....we didn't.

[olafberserker]

It's crazy that at the end the things Seattle can probably get in ahead of us because of that fluke Monday night game against Green Bay. We can thank the NFL for that one.

The Seahawks held the Greenbay Packers to 4 field goals in that game. They may have been the recipients of a bad call at the end, but they put them in a position to win in that game. They also beat the Patriots in a shoot out. Then the Seahawks went into Chicago and beat the Bears when they needed it most. That is why they will get in the playoffs. They rose up and took their opportunity....we didn't.

wait a minute, we held Dallas to 16 points and we made plays to stay in the Atlanta game.  A fluke play and we may have won either or both of those games.

[Chief Joseph]

This just isn't a playoff caliber team. It is a mentally tough team that doesn't quit, but they're not playoff ready yet. Moving down in the draft ain't gonna help us none.

[TBTrojan]

It's crazy that at the end the things Seattle can probably get in ahead of us because of that fluke Monday night game against Green Bay. We can thank the NFL for that one.

The Seahawks held the Greenbay Packers to 4 field goals in that game. They may have been the recipients of a bad call at the end, but they put them in a position to win in that game. They also beat the Patriots in a shoot out. Then the Seahawks went into Chicago and beat the Bears when they needed it most. That is why they will get in the playoffs. They rose up and took their opportunity....we didn't.

wait a minute, we held Dallas to 16 points and we made plays to stay in the Atlanta game.  A fluke play and we may have won either or both of those games.

Hmmm,
Packers 8-4 playoff team
Bears 8-4 playoff team
Pats 9-3 playoff team

Cowboys 6-6 and would struggle to make the 12 team playoffs if the NFL were a 12 team league.
Falcons record doesn't matter because it was a divisional game and everything goes out the window for those.

And in Seattles case there is no "IF they made a fluke play" they did make the plays while we didn't, that's a sign of a playoof team compared to a pretender.

For my money (and it pains me to say this) it doesn't matter anyway because we are likely going to be looking up at the Hawks & Skins from our 8th seed spot come playoff time.