TAMPA, FLA. (AP) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t spending a lot of time going over the various scenarios under which they can make the playoffs.
None of them work unless the NFL’s youngest team can defeat an opponent with a winning record for the first time all season. So, coach Raheem Morris and his players say they’re focused solely on trying to beat New Orleans this week.
While a win over the Saints won’t necessarily guarantee a NFC wild-card berth, a loss to the defending Super Bowl champions will eliminate any chance of the Bucs (9-6) earning a spot over the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants.
“That’s all we can think about. That’s our playoff game,” Morris said. “It we go out and win it, whatever happens happens. … If you waste time during the week worrying about scenarios, usually you take away from time in preparation, and we don’t like to do that.”
The Bucs kept their hopes alive with a 38-15 victory over Seattle, clinching a winning record after going 3-13 in their first season under the 34-year-old Morris.
There were snickers during training camp when the league’s youngest head coach declared his largely inexperienced team was capable of winning 10 games and making the playoffs, however no one is laughing now.
With Sunday’s victory over the Seahawks, the Bucs became the first team since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 to start 10 or more rookies during the course of a non-strike season and finish with a winning record.
Their one-year improvement from three wins to nine matches the biggest single-season turnaround in franchise history. And, they’ve done it with a second-year quarterback who didn’t make his first start until midway through his rookie season.
Josh Freeman threw for a career-best five touchdowns and had a single-game 144.2 passer rating against Seattle. The 22-year-old has 23 TD passes vs. six interceptions and has led five fourth-quarter comebacks this year.
In addition to matching their season-high point total against Seattle, the Bucs more importantly finally showed signs of having an offense capable of pounding struggling defenses into submission late in games.
Rookie LeGarrette Blount overcame a slow start to rush for 164 yards _ most by a Bucs runner in 10 years _ and Freeman threw his last TD pass after the Seahawks drew within a couple of scores of possibly tying it in the fourth quarter.
Freeman finished 21 of 26 for 237 yards and no interceptions.
“I just can’t say enough good about him. He continues to get better at the little things that a lot of people don’t necessarily recognize watching the game,” offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. “He’s gotten better every week and we still see him getting better and being the guy that will put the dagger in some peoples hearts as he goes forward.”
The Saints, who had a shot at clinching a playoff berth when they faced the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, won an earlier meeting against the Bucs 31-6 in Tampa.
Tampa Bay has improved offensively since then, with Blount being one of the biggest reasons.
The 250-pound running back, claimed off waivers just before the season opener, was inactive for the first game against New Orleans and didn’t make his first pro start until Week 11. He enters Sunday’s finale needing 59 yards rushing to reach 1,000 for the season.
“I think our guys are really excited that they get a chance to play them again,” Olson said. “We were very disappointed after that first game.”
In a sense, it may be fitting that the Bucs need to beat the defending champs to remain in contention for a wild-card berth.
Tampa Bay is 9-1 against team with losing records, compared to 0-5 against opponents with winning marks.
“It feels awesome just to know that this is an all-or-nothing game,” Blount said.
“I told a lot of the Saints after we played them the first time: `We owe you one,’” left tackle Donald Penn added. “`We’re going to see you again.’”
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