Three clutch drives, three game winners, 3-0 record. That should have served as a canary in the coal mine moment for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After starting the season red-hot, injuries have begun to affect the team in every outing. As a result, three consecutive losses have landed them at 6-5 on the season.
What seemed like an extremely easy division to dominate has suddenly become a tightrope for the team to walk. With the Carolina Panthers hot on their heels and the Atlanta Falcons not far behind, the loss to the Los Angeles Rams served as a major blow to the playoff hopes of the Buccaneers.
Can the Buccaneers Still Make the Playoffs?
At some point, it seemed inevitable that their streak of good luck would come crashing down. But the fall for Tampa Bay has been precipitous and immediate. Losing five of their last eight, they are now in a legitimate race for a playoff spot and a division title.
Rather than securing their own place, they could be out of the top of the division as early as tomorrow if the Carolina Panthers can defeat the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
They can earn that spot back with both games still on the schedule against their divisional rivals. But what seemed like easy, guaranteed wins might be on a far more even playing field than most anticipated.
Unfortunately, the worst just came to true for the franchise against the Rams. Going down 31-7, they tried to claw their way back into the game in the second half. Their superstar quarterback, Baker Mayfield, understood the significance of the game and tried to take a few risks.
One such attempt at a scramble did not pan out, and he got sandwiched between multiple LA defenders. Immediately, in a world of pain, he was quickly taken to the sidelines, where he was tended to, before appearing in a sling on his left arm.
According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Buccaneers remain the favorites to win the NFC South, with a 60.6% chance of winning the division. Moreover, their chances of making the playoffs are still quite high at 63.6%.
The exact nature of his injury hasn’t been confirmed. However, the sling is likely to give any fan pause about what the future holds for this team. With this loss, the divisional title and playoff spot are both in jeopardy for them, and that is reflected in their latest playoff odds.
