if tampa wins are they in the playoffs

Tampa Bay is not automatically in the playoffs just by winning; they need help. If the Buccaneers win, they still need the New Orleans Saints to beat or tie the Atlanta Falcons for Tampa to clinch the NFC South and reach the playoffs.

What happens if Tampa wins?

• If Tampa Bay wins its game, it finishes 8-9 and stays alive for the NFC South title.

• Tampa cannot get in as a wild card this year; the only path is winning the division.

The key other result

• The Falcons–Saints game decides Tampa’s fate after a Bucs win.

• If the Saints win or the game ends in a tie, Tampa wins the NFC South on tiebreakers and makes the playoffs as the No. 4 seed.

• If the Falcons win, a three-way tie at 8-9 gives Carolina the tiebreaker, and Tampa misses the playoffs even with a win.

Simple forum-style takeaway

If Tampa wins, they’re not “in” yet – they’re basically done with their part and then have to sit and root hard for the Saints. A Bucs win + Saints win/tie = playoffs; a Bucs win + Falcons win = season over.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.