Buccaneers need a tie among myriad scenarios for playoff berth

As of Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed eight scenarios to play out in their favor to leapfrog the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers for the NFC's final playoff spot.

Due to their loss Saturday to the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs ceded control of their playoff fate.

The Bucs own a 8-7 record entering the final week of the regular season. The Packers are the NFC North division leaders at 9-6, the Lions own the sixth seed with their 9-6 record, and the Redskins are knocking on the door at 8-6-1.

The list of results Tampa Bay needs to pass each of those teams reads like this:

1. Dallas Cowboys defeat Detroit Lions in Week 16
2. Buccaneers beat Carolina Panthers in Week 17
3. Cowboys beat Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17
4. Tennessee Titans beat Houston Texans in Week 17
5. Indianapolis Colts beat Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17
6. San Francisco 49ers beat Seattle Seahawks in Week 17
7. New York Giants tie with Redskins in Week 17
8. Lions beat Packers in Week 17

Got all of that?

The Cowboys did the Bucs a favor Monday by beating the Lions, completing task No. 1. Tasks two through eight won't be as simple, however.

The Buccaneers can help their own cause Sunday by sweeping the season series with the Panthers, but then they'll need help from a fifth of the NFL's teams.

Why would the results of two matchups featuring AFC teams figure in the Buccaneers' playoff chances? If the Bucs and Packers end the year with matching 9-7 records, they'll also be tied in the divisional-record and conference-record tiebreakers. The sixth-seed winner would then be determined by strength of victory, the combined winning percentages of the opponents a team has beaten.

The Packers defeated the Texans, Jaguars, Eagles, and Seahawks this season. If they all lose in Week 17, the Bucs' strength of victory will be stronger than the Packers.

There's a chance all those teams could win, right? Still, should the 49ers complete a minor miracle and beat the Seahawks, the Bucs would still need the Giants and Redskins game to end in a tie, rendering Washington's record to 8-6-2, a mark that would eliminate them based on their record against NFC teams.

Break out your four-leaf clovers, voodoo dolls, and rabbit's feet, Bucs fans.