As folks in Tampa, and around the world, eagerly await their Christmas gifts, Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a holiday wishlist of their own.
Of course, Santa isn’t going to help them out — the Bucs are the only ones who can determine what happens next but so far things haven’t gone so well. Tampa Bay was in control of the No. 3 seed at one point this season but fumbled that away along with the NFC South lead.
Talk about giving fans a lump of coal after a 6-2 start to the season.
Now the Bucs have been master of their own demise, losing six of the last seven games and falling into second place behind the Panthers. The good news is they still control their own destiny, needing two more wins to win the division, but there’s hardly any Christmas cheer around Tampa given how things have gone.
Here’s what on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Christmas list this year
1. A division title
This one is obvious. The Buccaneers would love to win their fifth straight NFC South title. Not only because it’s cool to win the division (obviously), but because it’s their only chance at reaching the playoffs. By nature of the way their schedule is set up (with two games against the Panthers remaining) and because the rest of the NFC is really good, there is no scenario for Tampa Bay to lose the division and reach the postseason. They could finish 9-8, losing the division on a tiebreaker to Carolina, and would likely finish as the No. 9 seed in the NFC, outside the playoff field.
2. Winning out in the regular season
While Tampa Bay could win the division at 9-8, it would be great to sweep Carolina and finish at 10-7. Winning three straight games to close out the regular season would calm a lot of anxiety surrounding this team. We know Baker Mayfield has big-game leadership. He’s been awesome in the playoffs. But he needs to get there first, and getting there on a three-game winning streak would help tremendously.
3. The Rams don’t get the No. 5 seed
If Tampa Bay wins the division, they’ll finish as the No. 4 seed, and would host the No. 5 seed in the first round. That could mean trouble, especially if the Rams (who currently occupy the No. 5 seed) finish in that spot. The Rams significantly outplayed Tampa Bay when they played earlier this year, and would probably be the worst matchup for the Bucs in the first round.
The Bucs need to hope the Rams either win the NFC West or lose at least one more game and fall to the No. 6 seed, which would set up a home game against either Seattle or San Francisco. Those teams are also good, but probably more favorable opponents (especially with Tampa Bay already owning a win over the Seahawks).
4. Baker Mayfield remembers who he is
The Buccaneers desperately need Baker Mayfield to remember who he is and what he is capable of. The Tampa Bay quarterback has been in a slump for two months, and it’s going to be important for him to break out of his downturn to finish the season.
If not, there is a real chance Tampa Bay loses to Carolina and loses the division. Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles ‘ futures might be on the line, and that should be enough motivation to get the job done this December and January.