There is still much to be decided on the NFC playoff pitch, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers know two things for sure:
1. They have already won one of three conference Wild Card slots thanks to the 47-7 victory over Detroit on Sunday.
2. If they win Atlanta in Week 17, they will be the main Wild Card, which is the fifth seed in the conference. This would guarantee an opening match against the NFC East champion.
NFC East has yet to be decided thanks to Washington’s 20-13 loss to Carolina on Sunday and the Dallas Cowboys’ 37-17 victory over Philadelphia. Washington will still win the division with a win over Philadelphia next Sunday, but if the football team loses the title it will go to the winner of the Cowboys-Giants game in Meadowlands.
That means the Buccaneers can still play in Dallas, New York or Washington to start the postseason if they beat Atlanta. That would also be true if the Buccaneers lose to Atlanta, but the Los Angeles Rams also lose to Arizona in Week 17.
If the Buccaneers lose to Atlanta and the Rams beat Arizona, the Buccaneers will be the sixth seed. This would lead to a confrontation with the third seed in the NFC. At this point, they could still be Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints or Seattle Seahawks.