National Football League

Miserable NFC South gives Buccaneers a glimmer of hope

Published Oct. 20, 2014 5:52 p.m. ET

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TAMPA, Fla. -- Their division was sliding off the rails, two would-be contenders routed, another losing a lead late, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watched the wreckage from afar. They were the fortunate ones.

The Bucs need so much to go right to dream of contending for a division title, but a Sunday spent far from the smoldering NFC South was one of their best developments in awhile. Tampa Bay's total in the loss column didn't increase. Division rivals ended the day with smoke billowing above them all.

It was a brutal and embarrassing day for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints -- they lost by a combined score of 91-47 -- and the Bucs came out big winners on their bye in a season that hasn't included many victories, moral or otherwise, outside that surprise at Heinz Field. They should take the ground gained however it comes.

Someone must win the NFC South, of course. With the way the landscape looks through seven weeks, an average or even below-average record could be enough to sneak into the playoffs. There's little to like about what the Bucs have offered in their 1-5 start, but division rivals have done everything they can to keep Tampa Bay's hope alive.

Monday, hope was enough.

"How many games have we lost? Five? We've won one?" Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "So, if we win out, we'd be 11-5 -- pretty good shot to go to the playoffs. So there is an opportunity."

Certainly, the Bucs won't win out. But as improbable as it sounds, they're just two games behind division-leading Carolina in the loss column. This is a poor division, and that suits the Bucs fine when they need bad from others to keep breathing. So far, others have complied.

Who saw this coming?

Yet again, who should be surprised?

Each year, reading the NFC South is as difficult as trying to make sense of damaged Egyptian hieroglyphs. The division has had no repeat winners since 2002. Each of Tampa Bay's rivals has won two division titles since the Bucs claimed their most recent one in 2007.

Good luck making sense of the NFC South in early September, one of the NFL's most frustrating annual jigsaw puzzles. Few divisions are as confusing, and this year, its mediocrity means opportunity for the Bucs. If they stop spinning their wheels, there's the chance to rally.

"It was a tough one last week," Bucs wide receiver Louis Murphy said, referencing a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. "We're going to go out there and play our hearts out this week."

Look, the NFC South champion could be worse than average. The Bucs' 9-7 record in 2007 stands as the worst mark for an NFC South winner since the division began in 2002. There has been one 10-6 winner (New Orleans in 2006), three 11-5 winners, three 12-4 winners and four 13-3 winners. So if Tampa Bay's locker room is to be excused for holding any hope at 1-5, usually a ticket to a free January, then this should be the year.

All this seems illogical, but since the NFC South is the only division this season without a leader who has at least five victories, anything is possible now. As easy as it is to remember the stink of 56-14 against Atlanta and the stench of 48-17 against the Baltimore Ravens, imagine if some of the near misses went the Bucs' way?

Losses to Carolina, St. Louis and New Orleans were all winnable with better execution in key moments. Had Tampa Bay won just one of those three, the division lead would appear that much attainable.

"For us to be 1-5 and still one game away out of second place, that just lets us know that we still have hope," Bucs offensive tackle Demar Dotson said. "That gives us a lot of hope. ... This division isn't as tough as it used to be."

So the chance is there for the Bucs to take advantage of that weakness with their upcoming schedule. They're terrible as a scoring offense (rank 26th in the league) and miserable as a scoring defense (32nd), so no game can be counted as a likely win. Lovie Smith's team hasn't earned the right to be comfortable any week, and until it proves otherwise, it's best to approach each Sunday with caution.

Still, the weeks ahead look kind. There's the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, then the Cleveland Browns, Falcons, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Cincinnati Bengals.

Until they face the Detroit Lions in Week 14, they don't play a current division leader. Only the Bengals aren't in third place or worse within their division among that group.

Then there's the Bucs' emerging quarterback situation. What if Josh McCown returns from the sprained right thumb and plays better than what he showed through the season's first three weeks? McCown received a positive review from Smith in his return to practice Monday, and it's not a stretch to see the veteran starting again because of Smith's loyalty to him. The lighter schedule ahead would be a decent way to acclimate McCown back into the role's rigors before a final sprint that includes matchups against the Lions, Panthers, Panthers and Saints.

Smith said he wouldn't address his quarterback situation until Wednesday. But Mike Glennon hasn't played well enough to shake all his critics' doubt about him as the Bucs' answer at quarterback. If Smith thinks McCown gives the Bucs the best chance to win, the coach could think the opportunity is now to capitalize on the opening ahead.

"I know what happened in our division," Smith said. "I realize how many games are we out of first place. We're in it as much as anyone with our record. ... To not play a game and end up in a better position than when we started the Sunday -- we're in a lot better position now. So we're excited about that."

After the smoke cleared from the NFC South on Sunday, the Bucs had reason to feel a bit better, even if their play hasn't inspired optimism. Two losses separate their view from the division's basement to its top, and with how bad division rivals have looked of late, that climb doesn't seem tall. It's amazing to consider, but it's reality.

Yet can the Bucs keep the wreck at a distance? That's the most important question of all.

You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.

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