NFL playoff picture: Are Tom Brady's Buccaneers likely to make the postseason? 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are having a not-so-great season when compared to their performances in recent campaigns. In their Week 14 game, they suffered a shocking 7-35 loss against the San Francisco 49ers. With just four more games left before the postseason, Tampa Bay need to win at least half their matches.

Prior to the matchup against the 49ers, they had a 6-6 record and an 85% chanceof making the playoffs. After the loss, Tampa Bay are still leading the NFC South, but barely. The margin for error is now extremely thin.

The Buccaneers' chances of entering the playoffs have dropped to 77%, which are still favorable. Tampa Bay still lead the South, even with a 6-7 record, but the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons are close behind at 5-8.

Tampa Bay are far more likely to enter the playoffs by winning the division than via a Wild Card spot. The feeling is that due to their record, failure to win the NFC South will mean failing to make the playoffs.

The Buccaneers are currently ranked eighth in the NFC and are ranked 17th overall in the league this season. As only seven sides make the postseason from each conference, every loss now becomes critical.

The good news for Tampa Bay is that they are still very much in control of their own destiny. Although they have been unimpressive, there is still time and they face some division rivals in their remaining games. They are very much still alive but need to play better going forward.

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Who will the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face in their remaining games?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v San Francisco 49ers

In the next four games, Tampa Bay will face the Cincinnati Bengals (home), Arizona Cardinals (away), Carolina Panthers (home), and the Atlanta Falcons (away). Out of the four, the Panthers and the Falcons are also from the NFC South.

Tampa Bay will play the Bengals in Week 15, which is a tough opponent. The Bengals have lost only four games this season and are second in the AFC North behind the Baltimore Ravens. Even if they lose to the Bengals, they can still make the playoffs.

The Buccaneers have a solid chance of defeating the Cardinals, Panthers, and Falcons. To enter the playoffs, they need to defeat at least Carolina and Atlanta, as they belong to the same division. The Panthers and Falcons are right behind Tampa Bay, so these two games will define their future.

We will see if they can make it to the postseason in the coming weeks.