Tampa Bay is one win away from a 10-5 record and clinching a wild card playoff spot for the first time since making the playoffs in 2007 as 9-7 NFC South champions. The Bucs, who are 5-2 on the road, travel to Detroit to face a banged up 5-9 Lions team on Saturday, December 26 that doesn’t have much to play for the day after Christmas.

The Bucs’ 31-27 win over the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday kept the team as the No. 6 playoff seed behind the 9-5 Rams and the 8-6 Cardinals. If the playoffs were to start today, the Packers (11-3) would have the first-round bye and the Bucs would travel to Seattle to play the NFC West-leading Seahawks (10-4).

There were some significant developments in the NFC playoff picture on Sunday, as the Rams were upset by the previously win-less Jets. That loss moved the Bucs into a tie with the Rams in terms of 9-5 records, but Los Angeles holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tampa Bay, so it’s holding on to the No. 5 playoff spot for the time being.

Bucs QB Tom Brady and WR Antonio Brown – Photo by: USA Today

However, if the Bucs were to win out against the Lions and the Falcons, and the Rams were to lose to either the Seahawks (10-4) or the Cardinals (8-6), then Tampa Bay would move up to the No. 5 seed in the NFC and play the winner of the NFC East division, which is currently Washington (6-8). Yet with two games remaining, all four teams in the NFC East are still mathematically alive to win the division because it’s been such a down year in Washington, Dallas, New York and Philadelphia.

There is still a slim, outside chance the Bucs win the NFC South. That would require Tampa Bay to win its final two games and for New Orleans (10-4) to lose its final two games. The Saints, who have lost two straight for the first time this season, got Drew Brees back at quarterback on Sunday, and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bucs.

Here is a current look at the NFC playoff picture entering Week 15.

CURRENT NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS

*1. Packers (NFC North leader) – 11-3 overall / 4-1 division / 9-2 conference
Remaining games: vs. Titans (10-4), at Bears (7-7)

*2. Saints (NFC South leader) – 10-4 overall / 5-0 division / 8-2 conference

Remaining games: vs. Vikings (6-8), at Panthers (4-10)

*3. Seahawks (NFC West leader) – 10-4 overall / 2-2 division / 7-3 conference
Remaining games: vs. Rams (9-5), at 49ers (5-9)

4. Washington (NFC East leader) – 6-8 overall / 3-2 division / 4-6 conference

Remaining games: vs. Panthers (4-10), at Eagles (4-9-1)

5. Rams (First wild card) – 9-5 overall / 2-2 division / 8-2 conference
Remaining games: at Seahawks (10-4), vs. Cardinals (8-6)

6. Buccaneers (Second wild card) – 9-5 overall / 3-2 division / 6-4 conference

Remaining games: at Lions (5-9), vs. Falcons (4-10)

7. Cardinals (Third wild card) – 8-6 overall / 2-2 division / 6-4 conference
Remaining games: vs. 49ers (5-9), at Rams (9-5)

*= Clinched playoff berth

IN CONTENTION

8. Bears – 7-7 overall / 2-3 division / 6-5 conference
Remaining games: at Jaguars (1-13), vs. Packers (11-3)

9. Vikings – 6-8 overall / 3-2 division / 4-6 conference
Remaining games: at Saints (10-4), vs. Lions (5-9)

10. Cowboys – 5-9 overall / 1-3 division / 4-6 conference
Remaining games: vs. Eagles (4-9-1), at Giants (5-9)

11. NY Giants – 5-9 overall / 3-2 division / 4-7 conference
Remaining games: at Ravens (9-5), vs. Cowboys (5-9)

12. Eagles – 4-9-1 overall / 2-2 division / 4-6 conference

Remaining games: at Cowboys (5-9), vs. Washington (6-8)