As we head toward the home stretch of the 2024 NFL season, the playoff picture is coming into focus. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were facing an uphill battle to return to the postseason after a difficult opening schedule but now have a chance to win the NFC South.
Are the Bucs still in a strong position to make the playoffs? Below we examine Tampa Bay’s playoff outlook using PFN’s Playoff Predictor.
Can the Buccaneers Still Make the Playoffs?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 7-6 and now have a 73.5% chance to make the playoffs.
They have a 0% chance for the first seed, a 0.4% chance for the second seed, a 20.4% chance for the third seed, a 52.6% chance for the fourth seed, a <0.1% chance for the fifth seed, a 0.4% chance for the sixth seed, and a 3.2% chance for the seventh seed.
Can the Buccaneers Still Win the NFC South?
Here’s what the NFC South race looks like:
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a 73.5% chance to win the NFC South.
- The Atlanta Falcons have a 23.6% chance to win the NFC South.
- The New Orleans Saints have a 2.8% chance to win the NFC South.
- The Carolina Panthers have a 0.1% chance to win the NFC South.
NFC Playoff Race | Week 16
1. Detroit Lions (13-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (11-4)
7. Washington Commanders (10-5)
In The Hunt
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
9. Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
Eliminated From Playoffs
10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
14. Chicago Bears (4-11)
15. Carolina Panthers (4-11)
16. New York Giants (2-13)
Buccaneers’ Remaining Schedule
- Week 15: at Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys
- Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers
- Week 18: vs. New Orleans Saints
Raiders at Buccaneers Preview Ahead of Raiders Game
After one of the most difficult schedules to open the season, the Buccaneers found themselves two games behind the first-place Falcons without the head-to-head tiebreaker. Their division title hopes were looking bleak. Since then, the Falcons have lost three straight and the Bucs’ schedule has opened up. They are now tied at 6-6 and trending in opposite directions.
The Raiders put up an incredibly strong effort against the Kansas City Chiefs on Black Friday. But as the Chiefs do, something seems to always go wrong for their opponents at the end of games, and thus the Raiders came up short on a late fumble.
Don’t expect this to be easy for the Bucs. Las Vegas is very much still competing at its hardest, but this is definitely a game Tampa Bay should win.
Look for the Bucs to attack the Raiders on the ground, just as they did to the Carolina Panthers in Week 13. Bucky Irving has taken over the lead-back role and is excelling. With the Bucs finally able to experience some positive game scripts, they have been able to take some of the load off of Baker Mayfield.
The Bucs rank fifth in the league in third-down rush conversion percentage at 60.5%. However, the Raiders are fifth in the league at stopping third-down rushes, allowing a conversion on just 42.3% of attempts. This will be an intriguing battle in the trenches.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Raiders really need to get going. The Bucs have been one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, allowing 4.7 yards per carry. However, the Raiders have been the single worst rushing team in the NFL, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. What will win out? The stoppable force or the movable object?
Through the air, it’s difficult to assess, as Aidan O’Connell has seen limited action this season. If there ever were a game for him to really shine, it’s against a Bucs pass defense allowing the third most passing yards per game.
Ultimately, the Bucs are the better team, and that should win out. They enter this game as 6.5-point home favorites with a betting total of 46.