With their 47-7 win over the Lions on Saturday, the Buccaneers claimed a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. However, their slim NFC South title hopes had already become obsolete by the time they took the field in Detroit on the day after Christmas. That’s because the Saints clinched the division for the fourth straight season with their win on Christmas Day, assuring the Bucs—at best—the NFC’s No. 5 seed.
At 10-5, Tampa Bay actually could finish with the same overall record as New Orleans. All it would take is a win over the Falcons in Week 17 combined with a Saints loss to the Panthers.