The 2024 NFL season concludes in just three days when the final game, the 272nd of the season, ends between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. While they compete for who will earn the number one and five seed, the Bucs are focused on securing their own playoff spot.
The Bucs will face the New Orleans Saints with control of their own destiny, where a win over their division rival earns them a ticket to the dance.
We bring up the Lions and Vikings because if the Bucs win and secure the fourth seed, they are playing the loser of that Sunday Night Football matchup. That would mean they would be facing arguably the second-best team in the conference in the Wild Card round of the playoffs despite winning their division.
The Bucs defeated the Lions in Week 2 this year on the road by a score of 20-16. The Bucs did not face the Vikings this year, so that would be a new test for this team. Either way, the Bucs are staring down the barrel of a tough playoff matchup right off the bat.
A win would propel them and their momentum heading into the divisional round. A loss, well, we all know where that sends any playoff team.