Buccaneers Have NFC's Easiest Remaining Schedule

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 3-6, yet are not only still alive in the NFC South race, but they are favored to win it.

The biggest reason for this, as one might guess, is that the NFC South isn't good.

Tampa is only out of first place by half a game and is less than three weeks removed from pounding the first-place Carolina Panthers by 30 on the road.

The second biggest reason Tampa has a good shot is its remaining schedule. Now, reason No. 2 goes hand in hand with reason No. 1 in a way. Four of Tampa's last eight games are against NFC South opponents.

At the same time, that means that four of Tampa's last eight games are also not against NFC South opponents, which, in theory, means the Bucs could take on some tough competition.

That hasn't turned out to be the case. Per ESPN's Football Power Index, Tampa has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFC and the fourth easiest overall, ranking 29th out of 32 teams.  

By comparison, the Atlanta Falcons (3-6) have the No. 24 strength of schedule, the Panthers (3-5) have the No. 19 schedule, and the New Orleans Saints (3-5) are all the way up at No. 13.

Tampa's next opponent will be a tough one.

Following this week's bye, the Bucs take on the Detroit Lions (6-2) on the road.

After that, the Bucs host Carolina, whom they've already dismantled.

The next week, Tampa hosts a Los Angeles Chargers team that had playoff aspirations at the start of the season, but is currently 0-8.

Tampa will stay at home to host the Baltimore Ravens, who are a playoff-caliber team with QB Lamar Jackson, but aren't great without him, and will most likely be without him Dec. 13.  He is still recovering from a fractured and dislocated right thumb (6-to-9 weeks from Nov. 1).

Tampa then returns home to get its first crack at the Saints five days before Christmas.

The Bucs will then go back on the road for a rematch with the Falcons, who they shut out, 16-0, less than three weeks ago.

The next week, Tampa hosts the Los Angeles Rams, who, while not experiencing the calamity that has been this Chargers' season, are off to a disappointing 5-4 start considering the talent on the roster.

Tampa will then end its season in New Orleans, and right now, the Bucs expect to end it with their fifth division title in six seasons.