The good news for the Bucs due to the team’s 29-25 win at Atlanta on Sunday is that Tampa Bay is now in first place in the NFC South due to a tiebreaker. The Bucs, Falcons and Saints are all 6-7, but Tampa Bay has a better record versus common opponents, which is why the team has reclaimed the division lead – for now – with four games to go.

What’s even better for Tampa Bay is the current state of the NFC, which is top heavy with a few very good teams – and littered with five teams that have 6-7 records, including the Bucs. So even if Tampa Bay can’t secure a third-straight NFC South title this year there is still a chance the team could make the postseason with one of the final Wild Card playoff spots.

If the season ended today the Bucs would be in the playoffs with the No. 4 seed due to the team winning the division. No. 4 Tampa Bay would host No. 5 Philadelphia, which has 10-3 record, in a rematch of Week 3, in which the Eagles beat the Bucs 24-11 on Monday Night Football.

But the good news is that the final NFC playoff spot is currently manned by 6-7 Green Bay. So if the Bucs finish 9-8 or perhaps even 8-9 and without the NFC South title there is a chance Tampa Bay could still make the playoffs with the final Wild Card spot – depending on how the season plays out among the other contenders in the NFC.

Bucs Are Currently In The Playoffs As NFC South Champions

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photo by: USA Today

Here is a look at the current playoff standings in the NFC and where the 6-7 Bucs stack up against the rest of the teams. Tampa Bay has a big game at Green Bay on Sunday against the 6-7 Packers, which could go a long way in possibly determining a potential Wild Card tiebreaker between the two teams in January.

CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT

1. 49ers – 10-3 – 1st in NFC West

PLAYOFF BOUND – IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY

2. Cowboys – 10-3 – 1st in NFC East
3. Lions – 9-4 – 1st in NFC North
4. Bucs – 6-7 – 1st in NFC South
5. Eagles – 10-3 – 2nd in NFC East
6. Vikings – 7-6 – 2nd in NFC North
7. Packers – 6-7 – 3rd in NFC North

IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT

Rams – 6-7 – 2nd in NFC West
Seahawks – 6-7 – 2nd in NFC West
Falcons – 6-7 – 2nd in NFC South
Saints – 6-7 – 3rd in NFC South

NOT ELIMINATED YET, BUT NEEDS HELP

Giants – 5-8 – 3rd in NFC East
Bears – 5-8 – 4th in NFC North
Commanders – 4-9 – 4th in NFC East
Cardinals – 3-10 – 4th in NFC West

OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED

Panthers – 1-12 – 4th in NFC South