Tampa Bay Buccaneers Playoff Picture 2022: Seeding Scenarios, Possible Wild-Card Opponents

Amid the Antonio Brown debacle, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the final stretch of their Super Bowl title defense. The reigning champions are firmly in the 2022 NFL playoff picture, set to host a wild-card game next week.

Since the Green Bay Packers have already clinched the top spot in the NFC standings, all that’s on the line in Tampa Bay’s Week 18 matchup with the Carolina Panthers is a potential top-two seed. The Buccaneers enter the regular-season finale as the No. 3 seed, though scenarios exist for the team to either move up or down one spot.

The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 18 as the No. 2 seed with the same record as Tampa Bay. The Dallas Cowboys are the No. 4 seed and a game behind the Bucs. The Arizona Cardinals are the No. 5 seed with a chance to overtake L.A. and win the NFC West.

Landing the No. 4 seed is the most unlikely scenario for Tampa. That can only happen with a Cowboys’ victory and losses by the Bucs, Rams and Cardinals. It would trigger a three-way tie among Dallas, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, leaving the Bucs with the worst conference record of the bunch.

If Tampa Bay is the No. 4 seed, it means Arizona is the No. 5 seed. The Cardinals would be the Bucs’ opponent in their first-round playoff game.

In the most likely scenario, Tampa Bay stays at No. 3. A win by the Rams would guarantee that the Bucs keep the No. 3 seed, regardless of what happens in Tampa Bay’s game.

The Rams host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18. San Francisco clinches a wild-card spot if it wins or the New Orleans Saints fail to beat the Atlanta Falcons Sunday.

As the No. 3 seed, Tampa Bay would host San Francisco or the Philadelphia Eagles on Wild-Card Weekend. Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff spot and is guaranteed to finish as the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, depending on the Week 18 results.

Philadelphia hosts Dallas Saturday night.

Tampa Bay would claim the No. 2 seed if the Bucs beat the Panthers and the Rams lose to the 49ers. In that scenario, Tampa Bay would host Philadelphia in the first round of the postseason.

The Bucs beat the Eagles on the road 28-22 in Week 6.

The Bucs won three straight road games en route to last year’s Super Bowl. That included a trip to Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship Game.

Tampa Bay’s road to this year’s Super Bowl likely involves another game in Green Bay.

The Bucs are eight-point favorites at home against the Panthers Sunday. It’s unknown how much Tampa Bay’s starters will play, given that the No. 1 seed is no longer an option.

Tom Brady leads the league in both passing yards and touchdowns with one game left on the schedule.