NFC playoff picture coming into focus
We're probably a little early with this, but there was an interesting nugget in today's paper that I thought I'd pass along for those who missed it.
Our editors included a snapshot of the playoff picture in the NFC through Sunday's games, showing you what the playoff lineup would look like if the postseason started today.
DIVISION WINNERS
Giants (East) 9-1*
Panthers (South) 8-2*
Cardinals (West) 7-3
Packers (North) 5-5
WILDCARDS
Bucs 7-3
Redskins 6-4
(* denotes first-round bye)
A great deal is going to change between now and the end of the season. The Bucs play at Carolina, for example, in three weeks. And the Cowboys and Falcons are still very much in the thick of the wildcard race, too. And who knows which teams will rise or fall that we're not even considering?
Guess we'll have our answers soon enough.
Bucs Beat is the online destination for Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans interested in the latest news about the team. St. Petersburg Times reporters Rick Stroud, Stephen Holder, Dave Scheiber and Joe Smith will provide regular updates. Readers can comment on players, coaches, the front office - all of it.
Those Bears would get stomped in the first round whomever they play. The championship game should come from NFC East and the NFC South this year.
Posted by: Donovan | November 17, 2008 at 10:01 AM
I'm not sure about that Donovan. A first round matchup in Chicago would not be an easy win. Nor would it be easy in Green Bay or Minnesota. We need to win the division and get a first round bye to have a chance to reach the Super Bowl.
Posted by: Tom | November 17, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Bucs don't get some action in the redzone... outside of Field Goals... They will be One and Done!
Posted by: Pete | November 17, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Pete, I agree. The draw play on 3rd down inside their ten was a head scratcher.
We need to put the ball in the hands of Antonio Bryant. That guy is probably the most talented offensive player on the team.
Posted by: Tom | November 17, 2008 at 11:06 AM
thrilled about the win, loved the ball control and our defense, but a team with our O-Line and targets like bryant, clayton, and stevens needs to score TDs that close to the goal line...that game should've been closer to 27-13 and didn't need to come down to those high-tension moments at the end....still this team has faced better teams and more adversity than any gruden-led team i can remember....swept all 3 teams vying for the NFC North title, 2-0 against the biggest threats for the NFC South crown, and were in a position to win on the road in dallas, denver, and KC....and you just get the feeling that this team is gonna get better down the stretch. great bunch, just need to make the Red Zone their friend.
Posted by: skp | November 17, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Fire Gruden, he wins too much!
Posted by: Fire Gruden | November 17, 2008 at 01:05 PM
You say a draw was a head scratcher, but earlier in the season I don't recall which game we ran the same play with dunn and he scored a td on a 3rd and long, so my point is u win some play calls and u lose some play calls. Thats nfl football for you. I was hoping for a screen that play to bryant or galloway personally.
Posted by: dylan | November 17, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Nice that the Times does some fact checking.
The Packers are in first place in the North, not Chicago.
Posted by: Fred Mertz | November 17, 2008 at 01:50 PM
This is true
Posted by: | November 17, 2008 at 02:16 PM
THE ANSWER... SIT #20!
Posted by: www.benchbarber.com | November 17, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Fred, you're right. I didn't write this unfortunately. I copied it and pasted it. But the first tiebreaker is head to head, and right now Green Bay would win on those grounds.
Posted by: Stephen Holder | November 17, 2008 at 02:35 PM
Dylan, that draw play by Dunn for a TD was a 17 yard TD against Atlanta on 3rd and a long goal. They were just hoping to get a little closer for a FG and Dunn took it to the house. It was hardly a play designed for a TD.
In contrast, the draw play yesterday was very manageable for a pass in the end zone. Secondly, it was called against one of the best teams against the run. Thirdly, they should have called a draw on 2nd down, but instead, they threw for an incomplete. Seems like they had it backwards.
Posted by: Tom | November 17, 2008 at 03:33 PM
the idiot that keeps saying sit 20 is an idiot. barber may not be in his prime, but he is still very valuble. one thing to remember is depth and knowledge. i wont be at all suprised if we start to see sit #3 because he missed a kick. i realy wish tampa would have a coaching tryout for all the couch coaches, then we would realy have 1st place in the draft. diots.
Posted by: ss | November 17, 2008 at 04:14 PM
Dylan, furthermore, it was shovel pass to Clifton Smith, not Warrick Dunn. Which makes that call even more puzzling.
Posted by: Tom | November 17, 2008 at 11:06 PM
The shovel pass was a audible by jeff garcia I am pretty sure. That bench Barber dude is a idiot.
Posted by: rhenry | November 18, 2008 at 07:37 AM