Can the Buccaneers still make the playoffs? Here’s their path in Week 17

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are sitting at 7-8 and still very much alive in the NFC playoff picture entering Week 17, but their margin for error is slim, and everything revolves around the NFC South.

Tampa Bay doesn’t have much wiggle room after their latest loss to the Carolina Panthers, but unlike several bubble teams, the Bucs still have a direct path to the postseason rather than needing a league-wide miracle.

They are currently 10th in the NFC seeding and 2nd in the NFC South, a game behind the 8-7 Panthers. They face a crucial matchup against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday, but it’s not all up to them.

What needs to happen for the Buccaneers to make the playoffs

The Buccaneers’ best, and realistically only, path to the playoffs is by winning the NFC South.

Here’s what that road looks like:

• The Bucs must avoid elimination in Week 17, which starts with needing a win against Miami.
• Carolina must lose or tie (vs Seahawks) to keep the division within reach.
• If Tampa Bay stays alive, the Week 18 head-to-head matchup with the Panthers could decide the NFC South outright

Because the Buccaneers would hold key tiebreakers with a Week 18 win, simply getting to that final game with the division still in play is critical.

How the Buccaneers could be eliminated in Week 17

Tampa Bay would be eliminated from NFC South title contention and playoff contention if:

• They lose and the Panthers win or tie
• They tie and the Panthers win

If either scenario occurs, the Bucs would no longer have a path to the postseason, and their season would end before the final week.

Why Tampa Bay still has reason for optimism

Unlike many teams on the bubble, the Buccaneers are chasing one team, not multiple wild-card scenarios. They have a clear tiebreaker opportunity in Week 18, and their fate is heavily influenced by one divisional result, not a chain of outcomes.

The path is simple, but critical: win now, then settle it later.

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