Somehow, despite a four game losing streak and things seeming as gloomy as they’ve ever been, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers control their own destiny to the playoffs. Not only that, but the Bucs control the No. 3 seed in the NFC and seem destined to win a fourth straight division title.

The Falcons benching Kirk Cousins could either completely sink their season or manage to save it, but the fact that the Bucs are in a position where they don’t need to rubberneck the disaster speaks to how far they’ve come. Just a month ago Tampa Bay was 4-6 and clinging to slim playoff hopes, but the team heads into a Sunday Night Football game against Dallas with the chance to set up a clinching scenario for Week 17.

There’s still a lot of football to be played, and a lot can change from week to week. It’s not too early to start thinking about potential playoff opponents, though, and what Tampa Bay’s path to the Super Bowl might be.

Ranking potential Buccaneers playoff opponents from easiest to hardest

5. Seattle Seahawks

First-year head coach Mike Macdonald deserves a lot of credit for the job he has done with this team. In a loaded NFC West, Seattle sits at 8-6 and has quality wins against division rivals Arizona (2x) and San Francisco.

While the defense started the year extremely lackluster, it has picked up as of late. They have only allowed 18.4 points per game in their last five games.

Geno Smith and Jaxon Smith Njigba have strengthened their connection as the season has waned. JSN ranks sixth in receiving yards, and Smith is third in passing yards.

With Smith getting hurt and how poorly backup Sam Howell played in their Sunday night contest against the Green Bay Packers in Week 15, it’s hard to rank Seattle any higher than this.

4. Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders have been one of the great stories of 2024. After a 4-13 record in 2023, they have a 9-5 record under new head coach Dan Quinn and rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and currently hold the seventh seed in the NFC.

Another defense that started the year off poorly, Quinn has them playing at a much more respectable level as we enter the middle of December. They have only allowed 38 points combined in their last two games.

Daniels continues to impress in his rookie campaign and is a strong candidate for the Rookie of the Year award. The standout is currently ranked fourth in completion percentage, 10th in passer rating, and fifth in QBR. That, coupled with their power running attack with Brian Robinson Jr., makes the offense much more dangerous.

Their problem lies in their lack of depth at receiver and cornerback. The return of newly acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore should help in their secondary but their receiver room remains a question mark with their number two and three options being Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Winners of their last three games, the Los Angeles offense is starting to hit their stride at the right time in the 2024 season.

Most notably, in Week 14, they knocked off the Buffalo Bills 44-42 in an absolute shootout. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is playing at an elite level even in his age 36 season. He ranks sixth in passing yards and has limited his turnovers with only seven interceptions.

With a much healthier offensive line, this offense is among the most dangerous in the NFL. Puka Nacua has been on a tear, and running back Kyren Williams has set the tone on the ground all year.

Much of their concerns come from the defensive side of the ball. They don’t have a single cornerback ranked in the top 50 in coverage grades according to Pro Football Focus. Although the win against the Bills was spectacular, as a defense, you never want to give up 42 points. Against teams with a .500 or better record, Los Angeles is giving up 30 points per game in those contests.

2. Green Bay Packers

Sitting at 10-4, Green Bay would be at the top in most other divisions if not for the fact that they’re in the gauntlet NFC North.

They have several quality wins over the Rams, Texans, Cardinals, 49ers, and most recently, the Seahawks.

Their defense has quietly been elite without their star cornerback, Jaire Alexander, for the last several games. They rank eighth in points allowed, sixth in interceptions, and ninth in overall rushing yards allowed.

Before winning three of their last four games, Jordan Love had turnover woes of his own. He had thrown in every game prior to Week 12 and still has the seventh-most. He has since cleaned that up and thrown zero in the last four games.

The addition of Josh Jacobs has worked wonders for the Green Bay running game. This season, the offense ranks fourth in rushing yards and seventh in rushing touchdowns.

With important divisional games against the Vikings and Bears, they must take care of business in the next three games to secure a playoff spot.

1. Minnesota Vikings

When rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy injured his knee before the season, many had projected the Minnesota Vikings to finish last in the NFC North.

Former first-round pick Sam Darnold has completely flipped the script and even has Minnesota competing for the division title with a 12-2 record. He ranks sixth in yards, fifth in touchdown passes, tied for second in big-time throws, and eighth in average depth of target.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell is almost certainly a top candidate for coach of the year and defensive coordinator Brian Flores has the defense playing at an elite level.

The defense and multitude of elite skill position players make Minnesota one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs and a certified Super Bowl contender.