It's a longshot, but the Bucs could have a playoff spot wrapped up before Week 17.A LOT has to go right to make it happen.I wrote about it in my monday column here - http://www.bucsnation.com/2015/12/7/9860648/dlts-diatribes-defense-keeps-em-in-it-jameis-wins-it But here's the jist of it -
There's a way the Bucs could have a playoff spot wrapped up before the Carolina game. It will take a LOT of help but its do able. The trick? Obviously the Bucs have to beat New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago. Not a murderer's row but for a young team like Tampa Bay, no game is a gimme.Then they need Seattle to lose two games (unlikely the way they're playing), or BOTH Green Bay and Minnesota to lose two games.Now the latter is a bit more doable. Here me out. Minnesota is on the road at Arizona, home to the Bears and Giants. Green Bay is home against Dallas, on the road in Oakland (not an easy road trip) and on the road in Arizona.Green Bay and Minnesota play each other in Week 17. If each enter that game 9-6 and the Bucs are 9-6, the only way Tampa Bay would not make the playoffs is if that game ends in a tie. The winner would be NFC North Champion (and the Bucs likely opponent in the playoffs), the loser would be out.Why? The Bucs conference record. Unlike previous seasons where the Bucs were behind the eight ball when it came to conference record, Tampa Bay has a very strong one. They're currently tied with both Green Bay and Minnesota in conference record.But here's the beauty. Minnesota only has NFC games left. 3 of Green Bay's last four are NFC opponents. If both lose twice in the next three weeks, they'll take at least 1 conference loss and the loser of the matchup at the end of the year will get another conference loss.Needless to say, having the wild card all but wrapped up before Week 17 would be a great thing for the Bucs. They just need a little help to do it. We're all suddenly big Arizona Cardinals fans.We'll get more on this and other playoff scenarios in DLT's Crazy Insane Bucs' NFC Playoff Scenarios, coming tomorrow!
