If the playoffs started today, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would make the playoffs as the last of two Wild Card teams in the NFC, despite the fact that the team has dropped two straight games.

The Bucs are 9-5 and will participate in the post-season for the second straight year if they win their final two games of the regular season, which are against San Diego and Oakland.

Although the Bucs and Falcons have identical 9-5 records, the Bucs would win the tiebreaker with Atlanta if both teams finish the year with the same record. Tampa Bay can still win the NFC South division title and earn a bye week and home playoff game by winning its final two games of the season and having Carolina drop its final two road contests vs. New York and New Orleans.

PewterReport.com will keep Tampa Bay fans updated on how the Bucs fit into the NFC playoff picture over the final two games of the 2008 regular season.

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE

Division Leaders

New York Giants 11-3 (NFC East)
Remaining Schedule: Carolina, @ Minnesota

Carolina Panthers 11-3 (NFC South)
Remaining Schedule: @ New York Giants, @ New Orleans

Minnesota Vikings 9-5 (NFC North)
Remaining Schedule: Atlanta, New York Giants

Arizona Cardinals 8-6 (NFC West)
Remaining Schedule: @ New England, Seattle

Wild Cards

Dallas Cowboys (9-5)
Remaining Schedule: Baltimore, @ Philadelphia

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)
Remaining Schedule: San Diego, Oakland

Outside Looking In

Atlanta Falcons (9-5)
Remaining Schedule: @ Minnesota, St. Louis

Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1)
Remaining Schedule: @ Washington, Dallas

Chicago Bears (8-6)
Remaining Schedule: Green Bay, @ Houston

Washington Redskins (7-7)
Remaining Schedule: Philadelphia, at San Francisco

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