Week 18: Win & In!

The word around the NFL is the Bucs must win Sunday over the Saints to officially make the playoffs.

Truth be told ..they essentially started the playoffs last week.

Two weeks ago, the Buccaneers lost 26-24 at Dallas and Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush.  That loss handed control of the NFC South to the Atlanta Falcons (8-8).

So, the Buccaneers having to win-or-else is nothing new.

The Buccaneers need to win at home over the Saints to punch their ticket.  The Bucs are favored by 13-and-a-half.  The Buccaneers manhandled the Saints 51-27 in Week 6 at New Orleans.  Yet, the Saints have won six of their last seven at Raymond James.

Let’s face it, this week a Bucs-Saints rematch is not exactly at the forefront of fans’ minds.  Whatever happens, Tampa Bay is desperate to stay one game up on Atlanta.  The Falcons close with Carolina at home and are favored by eight.

If the Buccaneers lose and Atlanta wins, the Falcons own the tiebreaker with a pair of victories over the Bucs.

The Buccaneers have as many quality wins as anybody.  How about opening the season by beating Washington, Detroit, and Philadelphia in the first month?

Unfortunately, if they don’t win the NFC South for a 4th consecutive time, their season will be judged by two defeats to Atlanta, losing at Dallas (7-9) and a 23-20 casualty to San Francisco (6-10).

Tristan Wirfs and Vita Via were voted into the Pro Bowl.

No Pro Bowl for Baker Mayfield.  Even though he leads the entire NFL with 42 touchdowns on the season, he lost out to Jared Goff, Sam Darnold, and Jayden Daniels.

Keep an eye on Mike Evans, he is 85 yards from his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season.  That would tie Evans with Jerry Rice for the NFL record.