Los Angeles Rams (11-3) at Seattle Seahawks (11-3), Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET
If we are looking at this from the scenario that the Buccaneers win the NFC South – I know that’s far from guaranteed, but we can look ahead to how things would shake out if they do – then this game very likely will determine Tampa Bay’s opponent in the Wild Card round. The winner of this one will be heavily favored to win the West, while the loser has a good chance of taking the top Wild Card spot (San Francisco and the Bears-Packers loser would be in that mix, as well). The Buccaneers’ most likely spot if they make the playoffs is the fourth seed, which means they would play host to the fifth seed, which is the top Wild Card team. So do we have a preference? Well, the Rams beat the Bucs by 27 points in Week 12 while Tampa Bay won in Seattle in Week Five. Yeah, that was a long time ago and the Seahawks are playing even better now, but I guess it makes sense to root for a rematch with a team you’ve already defeated. Maybe it’s the memory of that 2021 playoff game against the Rams at home that’s coloring my view here, as well. Seattle is pretty scary, too, but it’s the playoffs and you’re not supposed to have easy games. (And no, it’s not lost on me that if the Bucs faced the Seahawks in Round One and beat them, they would probably be headed to L.A. in the Divisional Round. But you can’t get to that second game without winning the first one. We’ll cross that bridge when and if we get to it.)
Verdict: Go Rams, by the slimmest of margins!
Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) at Washington Commanders (4-10), Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ET
Barring an epic collapse (plus three Dallas wins), the Eagles are going to win the NFC East, which makes them the division leader closest to the Buccaneers in the standings. Is there a seeding opportunity here, a chance to move from fourth up to third? Well, in addition to having a two-game lead over the Buccaneers, the Eagles also won in Tampa in Week Four, so that is effectively a three-game lead with three to go. So again, we’re back in “epic collapse” territory. Still, with no real reason to pull for the Eagles, we might as well root for Washington.
Green Bay Packers (9-4-1) at Chicago Bears (10-4), Saturday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Do we have any reason to prefer one of these teams over the other in the NFC North race? The winner of this one is going to be in first place, and that Green Bay tie with Dallas earlier in the season is going to prevent any tiebreaker situations at the end. If the Buccaneers win the South, they might end up playing whichever team comes in second in the North in the first round of the playoffs. I guess after the loss of Micah Parsons the Packers might be a little less formidable, though that’s still a talented roster overall. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams seem to be figuring it out in Chicago; they could be the proverbial team that gets hot at the right time, like the Commanders last year. I might change my mind next week, but for now let’s root for the Bears to take over the North.
Buffalo Bills (10-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-11), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) at Miami Dolphins (6-8), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs (6-8) at Tennessee Titans (2-12), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Three early-afternoon all-AFC teams, and only one team among the six that has not been eliminated from the playoff hunt. Still, there is something for Bucs fans to keep an eye on here. The Dolphins have elected to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers will make his first NFL start against Cincinnati. In the long run, we can wish young Mr. Ewers a very successful NFL career, but for now we wouldn’t mind seeing some growing pains. That’s because the Buccaneers are headed to Miami next week and, depending upon what happens in Charlotte on Sunday, their whole season could be on the line. If Ewers comes out of the gates hot against Cincy, that would be a bit of a concern.
Verdict: Go Bengals defense!
Los Angeles Chargers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
If you think there’s a little fun to be had rooting for a team with the tiniest bit of playoff hopes left to keep that alive, then by all means pull for the Cowboys in this one. Really, though, that would be akin to a wasted vote. Just stick with the tried-and-true strategy of rooting for the AFC team over an the NFC team.
New York Jets (3-11) at New Orleans Saints (4-10), Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
After doing the Bucs a solid last weekend with that last second win over the Panthers, the Saints should get our support for another week, right? Just a bit of a thanks? Well, actually, yes! Hear me out. Yes, our default setting as Buccaneers fans is to root against the Saints, and that’s almost always correct. You can apply that here if you want, especially against an AFC team. However, New Orleans is eliminated from the playoffs and has no more games left against the Bucs or Panthers. Their work here is done and their remaining results are irrelevant to us…except when it comes to the draft. Right now, the Saints have the seventh-overall pick in the 2026 draft. How about they add a couple more meaningless wins down the stretch and fall down that order a bit. There are two other 4-10 teams, a 5-9 team and three 6-8 teams, all reasonably within reach.
Verdict: Go Saints’ draft position…in the wrong direction!