Packers Lock Down No. 1 Seed; Bucs’ Path To No. 2 Seed Is Clear
January 2nd, 2022
Plenty still on the line.
Things have cleared up in the NFC race.
Green Bay (13-3), led by whiny Aaron Rodgers, has found its way to the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season after clobbering the Vikings tonight.
The Rams (12-4) hold the No. 2 seed over the Bucs (12-4) because they beat Tampa Bay in September. But the Rams host the 49ers next weekend, and San Francisco (9-7) has won five consecutive games against Los Angeles. The 49ers are to the Rams like the Saints are to the Bucs.
So if the 49ers continue to stymie the Rams and beat them next weekend, and the Bucs take care of the horrible Panthers, then the Bucs would earn the No. 2 seed in the NFC.
Does the seed really matter? It sure does. Bucs GM Jason Licht talked about it today on the Buccaneers Radio Network.
“We think it’s going to make a big difference in the playoffs,” Licht said of the seeding.
Keep in mind Licht’s team won three road games in the playoffs last year before hosting the Super Bowl. But this is a different year, one with full and hostile crowds. The No. 2 seed would mean a second home playoff game, assuming the Bucs win their first playoff game.
Unfortunately, the Saints (8-8) are still very much alive in the playoff hunt.
New Orleans closes with Atlanta and could land in the playoffs if they finish in a three-way tie with the Eagles and 49ers, or if they’re tied only with the 49ers. Philly (9-7), which beat New Orleans earlier this season, hosts the Cowboys and, as Joe wrote, the Niners head to face the Rams.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:10 pm
Their number 1 seed was never in doubt. Gonna be tough for any team to win out there. I am not a believer in the packers and though the bucs where the only team that could stop them. Idk now.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:15 pm
I believe the iggles are already in the playoffs. They have the tiebreaker over the saints. All they needed is a a loss by the Vikings.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:18 pm
No Godwin…no AB…
Let’s do this Brady….let’s do this Bucs!
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:27 pm
I did a bunch of scenarios on the ESPN Playoff Machine, and in none of them do the Saints match-up with the Bucs in the first round. Basically for the Saints to make it, the Rams have to beat the 49ers, that makes the Bucs the #3 seed, and away from the Saints. If the 49ers win vs the Rams, then the Saints are out.
In every case, except for one, if the Bucs win, they play the Eagles. The only other case was the 49ers. If the Bucs lose, then there’s a lot more possibilities, but none of them include a match-up with the Saints.
But, in all likelihood, as long as the Bucs win vs the Panthers, they will almost certainly face the Eagles.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:28 pm
Brady leading a depleted squad into the post season that people are in doubt about.
Where have I seen this before?
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:31 pm
Brady’s numbers…
2020 (16 games)… 4633 yards, 40 TDs, 12 INTs, 102.2 QB rating
2021 (16 games)… 4990 yards, 40 TDs, 12 INTs, 100.5 QB rating
More numbers…
2020… 21 sacks, 143 yards lost, 4 fumbles
2021… 21 sacks, 142 yards lost, 4 fumbles
Rushing….
2020… 30 att, 6 yards, 3 TDs
2021… 28 att, 81 yards, 2 TDs
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:32 pm
I wanna avoid the packers in the divisional round if i am the bucs. Take your chances with the rams although the rams seem like a bad matchup for the bucs.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:33 pm
tampabuscbsbro they can try to play us against the world mentality but you still playmakers to make plays. So grayson and tyler johnson will be making those plays against legit competition? We shall see.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:35 pm
WE LOVE U JOES APPRECIATE ALL YALL DO
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:38 pm
Francisco – no way do you want to fly across the country to play the Rams, what gives you hope the way the Rams have manhandled the Bucs that the Bucs win that? Not a chance. Give me Rodgers and the Packers, then let the media tell Brady all week that Rodgers is the best QB in the game… I will take the Packers matchup 10 out of 10 times. Not only that the Packers have been playing a cupcake schedule, getting wins vs teams without their starting QBs and generally COVID ridden, they’re not a tough team, and Rodgers is a choke artist.
Yes, the Bucs aren’t going to win 10 out of 10 vs the Packers, but I think they win probably 7. Meanwhile vs the Rams, I think they lose 7.
Matchups are everything, and the Saints and Rams are the two teams the Bucs absolutely should not want to face.
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:43 pm
@Rod and Francisco….I believe until I can’t believe… because of elimination.
Some of us fan how we want to fan!
Go Bucs and lets repeat!
January 2nd, 2022 at 11:47 pm
Bucs aren’t going to beat the Rams. It’s a match-up nightmare just like the Saints are. Bucs need the Packers to knock LA out like what happened last year.
When the schedule came out, many people IMMEDIATELY circled that week 3 match-up at LA as a loss. And it was. The Bucs got their backsides whooped. Brady got pressured all day. We couldnt stop Kupp. We couldnt pressure Stafford. McVay vastly outcoached Arians. And Gronk broke all his ribs. So what’s changed since week 3 to think the result would be different if we have to play the Rams in LA again in the divisional round?
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:05 am
Hey Jerry. Go root for the Saints. Do us a favor
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:10 am
Much like their history, I think the Pack choke in the playoffs like usual…
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:11 am
Jerry is right!
Stating the truth doesn’t make you less a fan – just being realistic. I hope we win it all again – but without key starters, it’s going to be really, really tough! Go Bucs!
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:15 am
Jerry is 100% correct.
I have zero doubt the Packers would bounce the Saints, the Saints would bounce the Bucs, the Bucs would bounce the Packers.
It’s all about the matchup.
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:38 am
Agree with those matchups. Only caveat is add is that Stafford has been Ina. Rut… However playoffs are a new start for all teams and yeah generally a bad matchup. I’ll take playing the packers
January 3rd, 2022 at 12:44 am
I disagree about wanting to play the packers in the divisional round. That means they would have to be the 4th seed. I don’t see how they slow the packers down. The offense would have to put up more than 28 points. Anyway i rather play the rams. Stafford is prone to turnovers.
January 3rd, 2022 at 1:32 am
be mind full that IF the aints beat the dixie chiks & the Rams beat the 49ers;; we could face slimys again in the first round……
January 3rd, 2022 at 4:24 am
Anyone who’s afraid of the packers doesn’t remember we kicked their ass last year twice. Brady is better than Rogers in the clutch. I don’t care when or where we play them. Stop being wussies and worrying about matchups. If you want to win the SP then you have to be ready to beat anyone. GOBUCS!
January 3rd, 2022 at 6:40 am
With the losses of AB and CG we NEED to pound the rock and do it effectively to repeat! Defense has been dreadful this year, I know we can do it!
January 3rd, 2022 at 6:51 am
It’s never good when other teams have to do your job for you.
January 3rd, 2022 at 7:59 am
Love how you all so easily write off the Packers. They are extremely healthy,
And they actually have a defensive coordinator this year…remember Joe Barry? They are healthy and have the bye. Of course on any given Sunday… but frankly, unless our D plays like it did last year, and we get it together on Offense, we only have one solid chance to beat them,…. Brady.
January 3rd, 2022 at 8:46 am
We could end up with the Saints at home…..
January 3rd, 2022 at 8:57 am
I’ve said all along, going to Green Bay this year is not the way the Bucs want to get to the SB. But looks like they will have to. That is if they even get to the Conference championship game. The wheels are falling off and we’re loosing altitude very quickly. Don’t know if we’ll make it to our desired landing spot.
January 3rd, 2022 at 1:44 pm
All of you keyboard clowns with your matchup insight know nothing. They play the games, not your GM/Head Coach fantasies. The most overrated word is “matchup.”
Your “reality” is your defense for being cooterboy fans. Go cheer for the Saints and Packers and Rams, you love them so much.
January 3rd, 2022 at 1:47 pm
I’m seeing a lot of ‘rewriting history’ in many of these comments. Playing the Packers … in Green Bay … in freezing January temps … in snow … COULD be a disaster for our passing attack, given that our run game is pretty well beaten up right now (I don’t care that we did beat the Pack twice last season, largely because of 4 critical turnovers BTW). Don’t want to play the Saints either (even IF we win, we’d probably get beaten up again). Rams don’t appeal to me either (we got beaten up in that game too).
Nope, given a choice I’d rather take my chances with the Eagles, Cards or 49ers in our 1st playoff game at home.
January 3rd, 2022 at 2:27 pm
No way Francisco. The Rams have abused us. Are we capable of beating them? Of course but their defense matches up well against our offense and their offense is potent enough. The Packers may be the best team on paper but Aaron still has to get us out of his head. I think we relish the opportunity to win in Green Bay and again could sadden Packer nation.
January 3rd, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Bucks and their cupcake schedule
January 4th, 2022 at 5:17 am
Bucs will beat the slimy saints
January 4th, 2022 at 5:47 pm
whoever we play. Terrorize their QB. Double their best receiver.Crowd their receivers. And dear Lord Todd don’t wait so long to adjust
January 4th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Whether we are up by 30 or behind by 30, Bowles has the same freak’n look on his face. Like mine when I saw Circus Solie in Vegas. What the Hell are they doing and WHY LOL
January 5th, 2022 at 11:11 am
Let’s go I hope Green Bay wins
January 8th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
Rod Munch says: “Give me Rodgers and the Packers, then let the media tell Brady all week that Rodgers is the best QB in the game… I will take the Packers matchup 10 out of 10 times. Not only that the Packers have been playing a cupcake schedule, getting wins vs teams without their starting QBs and generally COVID ridden, they’re not a tough team, and Rodgers is a choke artist.”
Couldn’t have stated this any better. It’s a Perfect Storm: a Playoff game placing the biggest chip on Tom Brady’s shoulder (“Rodgers is the better QB”) while placing Rodgers in the greatest choking scenario of his entire career. ALL the pressure will be on Aaron Rodgers against a Bucs Defense that has his number.
January 9th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
Green Bay lost to the worst team in football history. So, I’d placed them in last place!