The NFC South Leading Bucs

If you are looking for a prediction on today's Tampa Bay v. Washington game you will not find it here. No, for after predicting the Bucs to defeat the Jaguars, the Lions, and the Colts, all games which they lost, it has been decided that not only do I have no expertise in deciding the outcome of a game, but also that it was my cocky outlook on the game that cost Tampa Bay the win. So no, there will be no more predictions from this guy.

Regardless whether the Bucs beat the Skins or not, the NFC South standings will not concede another leader after this week's games. The Bucs are on top with a 6-4 record while Carolina and New Orleans are fighting (quite literally as the Panthers host the Saints this week) for second place and both stand with a record of 4-6.

Worst case scenario, the Bucs lose to Washington and fall to 6-5. Obviously, after this afternoon's game, either Carolina or the Saints will improve to 5-6 while the other shall fall to 4-7; regardless, the Bucs will remain the leaders of the South.

Best case scenario, the Bucs beat Washington and extend their record to 7-4 with either the Saints or the Panthers moving to 5-6. Talk about room for error. With only 5 games remaining, the Bucs will have taken a 3 game lead.

Obviously, the Bucs that we are seeing right now has been a welcome sight for all Tampa Bay fans. A veteran QB who rarely makes mistakes. A 3rd string runningback who has had a huge impact on both the ground and through the air. Joey Galloway has played as well as he always has in Tampa, Ike Hilliard has been playing like he once did years ago. And the defence looks to have returned to the glorious, hard hitting unit that it once was.

This is, of course, not to say that the Bucs have not made their fair share of mistakes, have lost games that they should have won, and have had the odds stacked against them, once again. However, Tampa has seemingly overcome these blemishes to become a very real playoff threat and to be a team respected and admired the league throughout.

And while performances from teams like the Patriots, the Packers, the Cowboys, and the Colts have overshadowed the play of the Bucs, one can not deny that this team can and will be a threat in the latter part of the season.

After today's game, the Bucs will see the Saints, the Texans, the Falcons, the 49ers, and the Panthers in the closing weeks, all games that should go in the Bucs favor, possibly with the exception of the Houston matchup.

However, at the moment, it is the Bucs who are the team to beat in the NFC South, for they have already proven what they had hoped to this season and, at least for right now, look to continue proving deep into this year's playoffs.