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These same Buccaneers are among the top favorites this year and still have a chance of getting hold of the second seed in the conference. For this, however, the Los Angeles Rams would have to lose at home against the San Francisco 49ers, because they have the tie breaker against Tom Brady and Co. The reigning champions, in addition to major injury worries, have questions about their consistency and the unrest about their ex-receiver Antonio Brown anyway enough other construction sites than that they inevitably wanted to look at the competition.
Ultimately, other NFL teams need to prove they can stop the Bucs in a postseason. Even in the Wild Card Round you will of course have a target on your back. In that round, the following teams are currently available as possible opponents for Tampa Bay: Philadelphia, San Francisco or Arizona.
49ers and Saints still hoping for NFL playoffs
Arizona and Dallas fought a close duel in Week 17 and, despite a temporary sand in the offensive gearbox, without question have the potential to put down a deep playoff run. In both cases, a lot will depend on the defense and whether it can absorb the prominent attack lines in weaker phases. The New Orleans Saints defense did just that with flying colors last game day in defeating Carolina, who kept the playoff dreams alive in the “Big Easy”.
Playing away with the Falcons at the season finale is also a doable task, while also keeping a close eye on what San Francisco’s direct competitor for the final NFC playoff spot is up to with the Rams. The division competitor will not spare any of their players against the 49ers, because LA is still playing for the second seed. If they lose, a simultaneous Arizona win over Seattle could see them slip down to the fifth slot.
A new leader emerged in the AFC with the Kansas City Chiefs losing to Cincinnati. The Tennessee Titans simultaneously dominated the Miami Dolphins and now only need to win their final game away in Houston to secure home rights through the entire NFL playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts have a similar task ahead of them when they travel to Jacksonville. In both cases, while the playoff contenders are down-and-out, they’re divisional contenders, so nothing’s really guaranteed either. This also applies to the rest of the conference, where all sorts of things can change on the last day of the game.
Real end game of NFL playoffs between Chargers and Raiders
The New England Patriots, for example, could even get hold of the conference top seed for the NFL playoffs with all sorts of outside help, while at the same time falling to seventh place in the playoff picture is still possible (the prerequisite would be a defeat in Miami). The Buffalo Bills, rivals for the Pats for the AFC East crown, may not have a chance for the first conference slot, but they could end up anywhere in the AFC playoff picture depending on how their last home game against the New York Jets went runs.
Such calculations around different scenarios are meaningless almost only in a game. The Los Angeles Chargers are traveling to Las Vegas for a real final, the winner of this game will definitely make it into the NFL playoffs. The Raiders could also move into the postseason with a loss and a simultaneous bankruptcy of the Colts. The Steelers and Ravens, direct rivals on the final day of the game, also need Indianapolis to slip to keep their slim chances alive (Baltimore needs even more support).
Finally, an overview of the season finale and the current first-round games in the NFL Playoffs:
AFC
Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ Broncos (PO)
New England Patriots (10-6) @ Dolphins (PO)
Tennessee Titans (11-5) @ Texans (PO)
Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) @ Browns (PO)
Indianapolis Colts (9-7) @ Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) @ Raiders
Buffalo Bills (10-6) vs Jets (PO)
Baltimore Ravens (8-8) vs Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1) @ Ravens
Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) vs Chargers
First Round Bye:
Tennessee Titans (#1 Seed)
Wild Card Round Matchups:
Los Angeles Charges (#7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (#2)
Indianapolis Colts (#6) @ Cincinnati Bengals (#3)
New England Patriots (#5) @ Buffalo Bills (#4)
NFC
Green Bay Packers (13-3) @ Lions (PO)
Dallas Cowboys (11-5) @ Eagles (PO)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4) vs Panthers (PO)
Arizona Cardinals (11-5) vs Seahawks (PO)
Los Angeles Rams (12-4) vs 49ers (PO)
San Francisco 49ers (9-7) @ Rams
New Orleans Saints (8-8) @ Falcons
Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) vs Cowboys (PO)
First Round Bye:
Green Bay Packers (#1)
Wild Card Round Matchups:
Philadelphia Eagles (#7) @ Los Angeles Rams (#2)
San Francisco 49ers (#6) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (#3)
Arizona Cardinals (#5) @ Dallas Cowboys (#4)
(PO = qualified for the playoffs)
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