The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their fifth game of the year with an upset of Carolina, winning back-to-back games for the first time since the team’s 2-0 start to the season. The Bucs improved to 5-7 on the year and matched last year’s win total with four games remaining, but continued to lose ground on having a higher draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter and general manager Jason Licht want to rack up the wins and pick as far away from the top 10 as possible in order to save their jobs, while some Tampa Bay fans don’t see the difference between a 5-11 record and 7-9 record except for the draft order next April.
Tampa Bay is one of two teams that have 5-7 record – Cincinnati is the other – and fell outside the top 10 with Sunday’s victory over Carolina. Here is a look at the current 2019 NFL Draft order:
1. Oakland (2-10)
2. San Francisco (2-9)
3. NY Jets (3-9)
4. Arizona (3-9)
5. Detroit (4-8)
6. Atlanta (4-8)
7. NY Giants (4-8)
8. Buffalo (4-8)
9. Jacksonville (4-8)
10. Green Bay (4-7-1)
11. Cleveland (4-7-1)
12. Tampa Bay (5-7)
Here is a look at the remaining schedules for the teams that currently have Top 12 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. Games that pit teams with 4-8 records or worse against each other are in bold.
1. Oakland’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. Pittsburgh (7-3-1)
At Cincinnati (5-7)
Vs. Denver (6-6)
At Kansas City (10-2)
Notes: The Raiders appear on course to have a Top 3 pick. It’s hard to see Oakland winning another game or two with the remaining schedule.
2. San Francisco’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. Denver (6-6)
Vs. Seattle (7-5)
Vs. Chicago (8-4)
At LA Rams (11-1)
Notes: Based upon this remaining schedule, the 49ers win contend for the top overall pick or at least stay in the top 3.
3. New York Jets’ Remaining Schedule
At Buffalo (4-8)
Vs. Houston (9-3)
Vs. Green Bay (4-7-1)
At New England (9-3)
Notes: It’s not inconceivable that the Jets lose their remaining games and finish with a Top 3 selection.
4. Arizona’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. Detroit (4-8)
At Atlanta (4-8)
Vs. LA Rams (11-1)
At Seattle (7-5)
Notes: The Cardinals won at Green Bay and could move out of the top 10 as their next two opponents have losing records.
5. Detroit’s Remaining Schedule
At Arizona (3-9)
At Buffalo (4-8)
Vs. Minnesota (6-5-1)
At Green Bay (4-7-1)
Notes: The Lions have a couple winnable games ahead and seem primed to finish 6-10.
6. Atlanta’s Remaining Schedule
At Green Bay (4-7-1)
Vs. Arizona (3-9)
At Carolina (6-6)
At Tampa Bay (5-7)
Notes: The Falcons have the schedule to make a move outside of the Top 10 and finish 7-9 with a strong finish.
7. New York Giants’ Remaining Schedule
At Washington (6-5)
Vs. Tennessee (6-6)
At Indianapolis (6-6)
Vs. Dallas (6-5)
Notes: The Giants have shown some signs of life and are one of the few teams that could claw their way out of a Top 10 draft pick and finish 6-10 or 7-9.
8. Buffalo’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. NY Jets (3-9)
Vs. Detroit (4-8)
At New England (9-3)
Vs. Miami (6-6)
Notes: The Bills have been an enigma all season, yet they could on a run at the end of the season with three teams with records of .500 or lower.
9. Jacksonville’s Remaining Schedule
At Tennessee (6-6)
Vs. Washington (6-5)
At Miami (6-6)
At Houston (9-3)
Notes: The Jaguars have some winnable games coming up, but they could also stay inside the top 10. Who knows?
10. Green Bay’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. Atlanta (4-8)
At Chicago (8-4)
At NY Jets (3-9)
Vs Detroit (4-8)
Notes: The Packers fired Mike McCarthy after losing to the Cardinals at home, but have some winnable games ahead that could keep them out of the top 10.
11. Cleveland’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. Carolina (6-6)
At Denver (6-6)
Vs. Cincinnati (5-7)
At Baltimore (7-5)
Notes: Cleveland have a chance to sweep Cincinnati with another win over the Browns, and could continue the Panthers’ losing streak, which would keep Cleveland out of the top 10.
12. Tampa Bay’s Remaining Schedule
Vs. New Orleans (10-2)
At Baltimore (7-5)
At Dallas (7-5)
Vs. Atlanta (4-8)
Notes: The Bucs got an unlikely win against Carolina, but face a challenge with three teams with winning records on deck. They have slipped outside the Top 10 draft order, but will they slide back in