{"id":7454,"date":"2016-12-04T08:00:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-04T13:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=7454"},"modified":"2016-12-04T03:19:10","modified_gmt":"2016-12-04T08:19:10","slug":"five-reasons-tampa-bay-buccaneers-playoff-berth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2016\/12\/04\/five-reasons-tampa-bay-buccaneers-playoff-berth\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Reasons a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Berth Remains a Possibillity"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last time the Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong> were 6-5, it was in 2012 when they were coached by Greg Schiano<\/a><\/strong>. Running back Doug Martin<\/a><\/strong> was a rookie out of Boise State<\/strong> and three-time All-Pro<\/strong> corner back Ronde Barber<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was finishing his 16-year career. Josh Freeman<\/a><\/strong> was the starting quarterback and they had notable names like\u00a0New England Patriots<\/strong>‘ running back LeGarrette Blount<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Seattle Seahawks<\/strong>‘ defensive end Michael Bennett<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Denver Broncos<\/strong>‘ corner back Aqib Talib<\/a><\/strong>.
\nThat year, they proceeded to lose four of their last five games to quality teams like the Broncos and the New Orleans Saints<\/strong> and finish 7-9. The Buccaneers’ last winning season was in 2010 with Raheem Morris<\/a><\/strong> as the head coach and Freeman was the quarterback. The team had popular names in Bucs’ circles such as Cadillac Williams<\/a><\/strong>, Kellen Winslow<\/a> <\/strong>Jr., Jeff Faine<\/a><\/strong> and Barrett Ruud<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The last time the Buccaneers made the postseason was in 2007 with Jon Gruden<\/a><\/strong> as the head coach. They lost in the wild card game to the eventual Super Bowl<\/strong> Champions the New York Giants<\/strong>. Jeff Garcia<\/a><\/strong> was the quarterback, Joey Galloway<\/a> <\/strong>was a wide receiver, Donald Penn<\/a><\/strong> was the left tackle. Defensively, they had\u00a0Kevin Carter<\/a><\/strong>, Derrick Brooks<\/a><\/strong>, Barber and Phillip Buchanon<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Buccaneers have the chance to make the playoffs in 2016 and here are five keys.<\/p>\n

Five Reasons\u00a0a Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Berth\u00a0Remains a Possibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Opportunity<\/h3>\n

The Buccaneers are 6-5 with five games remaining on the schedule. They have a realistic chance<\/a> to make the playoffs in the NFC<\/strong> because they are one game behind the Atlanta Falcons<\/strong> in the NFC South<\/strong>\u00a0and they are a half game back of the Washington Redskins<\/strong> for the second wild card spot. A Buccaneers’ win and a Redskins’ loss would move Tampa Bay ahead of them.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay is a Hot Team<\/h3>\n

The Buccaneers are also playing their best football of the season. They are on a season-long three-game winning streak and two of those wins came against the best teams in the AFC<\/strong> and the NFC. Two weeks ago on Nov. 20, the Buccaneers went to Arrowhead Stadium<\/strong> and beat the Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong> 19-17. The Chiefs had won five straight games prior to that loss. Last week at home, the Buccaneers hosted the Seahawks and won the game 14-5. This was the same Seahawks’ team that went into Gillette Stadium<\/strong> on Nov. 13 and beat the Patriots 31-24. The Patriots still had a healthy Rob Gronkowski<\/a> <\/strong>at that point.<\/p>\n

Weather<\/h3>\n

The Buccaneers play in favorable weather conditions from here on out. They have three road games, but one is this week at San Diego<\/strong> and the other two will be indoors against Dallas\u00a0<\/strong>and New Orleans<\/strong>. The Buccaneers have two home games against the Saints and\u00a0Carolina<\/strong>. Their last game of the season against the Panthers<\/strong>\u00a0should have better weather than a majority of the week 17 games.<\/p>\n

The Secondary<\/h3>\n

The Buccaneers’ secondary has changed the defense and it started with a pick-six<\/a> of Jay Cutler<\/a><\/strong> by Chris Conte<\/strong> against the Chicago Bears<\/strong>.\u00a0Free safety Bradley McDougald<\/a><\/strong> had a 32-yard interception against Russell Wilson<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in addition to five tackles and corner back Alterraun Verner<\/a><\/strong> had a 16-yard interception. The Seahawks passed for only 151 yards in the game. Conte, a defensive back who has been starting at strong safety, had a 53-yard interception and six tackles against the Chiefs. The starting secondary of McDougald, Conte,\u00a0Brent Grimes<\/a><\/strong> and Vernon Hargreaves<\/a><\/strong> has not allowed 300 passing yards in their last three games.<\/p>\n

The Offensive Line<\/h3>\n

The offensive line, which has been anchored by Donovan Smith<\/a><\/strong>, Joe Hawley<\/a><\/strong> and Ali Marpet<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>while being\u00a0supported by Ben Gottschalk<\/a><\/strong>, Demar Dotson<\/a><\/strong>, Kevin Pamphile<\/a> <\/strong>and Gosder Cherilus<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0has defeated two of the best defenses in the NFL in the Seahawks and the Chiefs. Quarterback Jameis Winston<\/a><\/strong> has been sacked just twice in two games and Martin has returned and averaged a respectable 3.2 yards per carry against two elite defenses.<\/p>\n

The Buccaneers play at 4:25 PM Sunday, Dec. 4 at Qualcomm Stadium<\/strong> against the\u00a0San Diego Chargers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n