Despite the position they have put themselves in, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have a chance at a playoff berth.
Despite losing to the Carolina Panthers last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still have a great chance of making the playoffs. But they will need some help.
First, they need to beat the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have lost two straight and have benched their starting quarterback.
The Bucs should have an easier task of taking of care of business than the Panthers, who have to face the NFC-leading Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
A loss by the Panthers and a win by the Buccaneers today will mean the winner of next week’s contest will decide not only the NFC South, but also who gets the playoff berth.
The Athletic’s playoff simulator gives the Bucs a 55-percent chance of making it; this increases to 64 percent with a win against the Dolphins.
Here are the ways the Bucs can clinch the playoffs over the final two weeks:
- Tampa Bay wins twice + Carolina loses twice.
- Tampa Bay wins twice + Carolina wins in Week 17, but loses in Week 18.
- Tampa Bay loses in Week 17, but wins in Week 18 + Carolina loses twice.
The easiest path, of course, is just win the division. All four NFC division leaders get a bye in the first round of the playoffs. If the Panthers or Bucs win the South, they get rewarded by not having to play the first weekend of the playoffs, and they get to host.
Despite the team's recent struggles, quarterback Baker Mayfield says the Bucs are in a good spot.
"Our back is against the wall," said Mayfield via the team’s website. "Pretty comfortable there."
Mayfield said the Buccaneers have been in this position before, and while he would prefer an easier path, he believes the experience and talent of his teammates to get the job done.
"I trust this group," Mayfield said, while acknowledging the team hasn't played "our best" recently. "I know that. We all know that. But we can still accomplish everything we want to."
It's one step at a time for the Buccaneers. First stop: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
"We have to win at Miami," Mayfield said. "Our focus right now is doing everything we possibly can to find a way to win in Miami and see what happens from there."