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NFL playoff picture: Buccaneers' playoff hopes fading fast

Tampa Bay, after a loss to New Orleans, is still mathematically alive for a Wild Card spot, but just barely after the early Week 15 results.

By Asher Feldman
Chris Graythen

Coming into their meeting with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew they needed a victory to keep their slim playoff playoff hopes chugging along. A 41-0 loss did not help the cause, but the Buccaneers' hopes for a Wild Card spot were kept ever so slightly open on Sunday after the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears.

The Bears' loss, combined with the New York Giants' loss, allowed for the now 6-8 Buccaneers to keep some hope alive of finishing 8-8 and claiming the NFC's final Wild Card spot. The Seattle Seahawks currently hold the NFC's fifth seed, and first Wild Card spot, and were leading the Buffalo Bills convincingly late Sunday afternoon.

The Giants, despite their loss to the Atlanta Falcons, hold that final Wild Card spot, with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings, both at 8-6, next in line for the position.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.