Everyone knows the Falcons-Panthers game will send a sub-.500 team to the playoffs.
But the virtue of playing in such a bad division also helps the Buccaneers, as well.
According to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, who did all the math, the Bucs have clinched the all-important strength of schedule tiebreaker against the Titans.
That would give them the top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, unless they beat the Saints and the Titans lose to Colts.
While strength of schedule numbers can change depending on who wins and loses this week, the Bucs have enough of a “lead” that they’ll still be lower than the Titans regardless.
So that said, they control their own destiny. If they lose this week, they’ll lock up the No. 1 pick. And because of the tiebreaker edge, they can pick no worse than second, even if they win.