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Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have won the NFC South. It took a lot longer than it probably should have and it was certainly an uglier victory than anticipated in the offseason. However, Brady and company are headed back to the postseason and that's all that matters.
Despite being 8-8 and potentially ending the year under .500, Tampa Bay has won the NFC South. This is mainly thanks to it being filled with subpar teams like the Carolina Panthers, who until Sunday's final whistle were the Bucs' biggest competition.
They've officially clinched the division, which also confirms they will host a playoff game and the fourth seed in the NFC. So, who might the Buccaneers face in the playoffs?
Possible playoff opponents for Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It was a dreadful year, one that Tom Brady certainly didn't envision when he decided to come out of his brief retirement. Nonetheless, the NFL's most accomplished player is back for another shot at a Super Bowl.
The team that stands in their way if the season ended today are the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are 12-4 and are not in danger of dropping to the sixth seed currently held by the New York Giants.
However, the season doesn't end today and Dallas are not their only potential opponents. Despite racing to a 8-0 start, the Philadelphia Eagles are in danger of losing their NFC East lead.
Should they lose and Dallas win, the Cowboys would be the NFC East champions. With Jalen Hurts potentially still out, that is a very possible scenario. In which case, the Buccaneers would host the Eagles.
What will Tom Brady and Tampa Bay do in Week 18?
It's been a long and grueling season for Brady and his teammates. Resting starters in Week 18 might be a good idea for a side that has struggled with injuries all campaign.
They're locked into the fourth seed and nothing they do next week matters at all for the postseason. There's not much point in playing Brady, Mike Evans and other stars and risking injury, so it would be a surprise if they feature in any capacity.
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