The Buccaneers left Chicago with a loss, but they did not leave the NFC South race.
Tampa Bay had a chance to take control on Sunday night and move into first place. Instead, the Bucs fell 27-24 after a game that included five turnovers forced by Tampa Bay and a pick-six against them. It was a missed opportunity, especially after the team had built some momentum with back-to-back division wins: a 43-13 road victory over the Carolina Panthers and a 16-0 home shutout of the Atlanta Falcons.
Even with the setback, ESPN’s playoff picture still has the Buccaneers as the clear favorite to win the division. Tampa Bay sits at a 64% chance to take the NFC South, ahead of Carolina at 21%, New Orleans at 11% and Atlanta at 6%.
That matters because the Bucs’ path to the postseason is basically through the division. ESPN gives Tampa Bay less than a 1 percent chance to earn a wild card spot.
For Buccaneers fans, that kind of setup probably sounds better than what happened a year ago, when Tampa Bay dropped seven of its final nine games and still missed the playoffs even though no team in the NFC South finished with a winning record.
And the division still doesn’t look like a powerhouse. Carolina, currently in first place, has lost three straight, including that 30-point loss to Tampa Bay at home.
Atlanta is tied with the Bucs for last at 3-6 after trading one of its best players, All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III, and appears to be looking ahead. New Orleans hasn’t offered much comfort either, especially after losing to that Falcons team by 21 at home not long ago.
If Tampa Bay does end up winning the South, it would be doing something rare. ESPN’s projection would make the Buccaneers the second team in league history to start 0-4 and still reach the playoffs. The only other team to do it was the 1992 San Diego Chargers.
In Other News...
Bucs Face A Trade Deadline Call That Could Save Baker Mayfield
With the Buccaneers sitting at 3-6 yet still atop the NFC South, the trade deadline has become less about luxury and more about necessity. Tampa Bays passing game has lagged badly all season, and that has put extra pressure on Baker Mayfield and an offense that has not found enough consistent help on the outside.
George Pickens has emerged as the kind of name that naturally fits the conversation, especially after his impact with the Cowboys has kept him in the spotlight. He is playing on the franchise tag, which makes his future a real question beyond this season, and while no trade talks have been reported, the idea of Tampa Bay chasing a receiver of his caliber is the sort of move that could change the look of the offense in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Face A Big Bucky Irving Decision After The Bye
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Todd Bowles has already signaled that the workload is a concern, and the bye week gives Tampa Bay a natural checkpoint to reassess how much it wants to keep asking of Irving. The Bucs do have other options in the backfield, with Kenny Gainwell and Sean Tucker both showing enough in recent games to make a wider rotation possible, but the bigger issue is how the team chooses to protect its most dependable runner without losing the edge he has provided. [Read more 🡒]
Gruden Legal Fight Just Put A Buccaneers Chapter Back Under Scrutiny
Jon Grudens lawsuit against the NFL has now put a familiar Buccaneers backdrop back in the frame, with the case moving through Hillsborough County as discovery continues. The dispute traces to the leaked emails containing offensive language that cost Gruden his job as Raiders head coach, and recent court rulings have kept the litigation moving even as both sides keep challenging parts of the case.
What makes the latest wrinkle notable for Tampa Bay followers is how much of Grudens personal circle is being pulled into the fight over private communications. The subpoenas have drawn resistance from people close to him, and the arguments are unfolding in the same county where he once won a Super Bowl as Buccaneers head coach and where he now lives, adding another local layer to a case that has already stretched well beyond football. [Read more 🡒]