NFL Playoffs: Schedule With Current Standings Sends Buccaneers To Philadelphia

The Buccaneers are in the NFL playoffs. For now.

With a win over the Saints early Sunday afternoon, the Bucs have temporarily moved into the NFC’s sixth seed. They’ll need losses by the Packers and Giants to claim a spot in the NFC playoffs, but Tampa Bay did all it could in Week 17.

But what about the rest of the NFL playoff picture? Here’s the projected 2011 NFL playoffs schedule based on the standings after the early games.

AFC Playoff Schedule

1. New England Patriots. AFC East champions. First round bye and home field advantage throughout AFC playoffs. Will host lowest seed remaining at home in two weeks.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers. AFC North champions. First round bye. Will host highest seed remaining at home in two weeks.

3. Kansas City Chiefs. AFC West champions. Would play sixth seed Jets at Arrowhead Stadium next weekend if Colts lose to Titans; will fall to fourth seed with Colts win.

4. Indianapolis Colts. AFC South leader. Would earn third seed with win over Titans; will remain at fourth seed with loss to Titans and Jaguars loss. Would play Ravens at Lucas Oil Field if fourth seed.

5. Baltimore Ravens. AFC wild card team. Will play at fourth seed next week.

6. New York Jets. AFC wild card team. Will play at third seed next week.

Jacksonville Jaguars. Still alive in AFC South. Would win AFC South with win over Texans and Colts loss to Texans, and would earn fourth seed in that scenario.

NFC Playoff Schedule

1. Atlanta Falcons. NFC South champions. First round bye and home field advantage throughout NFC playoffs. Will host lowest seed remaining at home in two weeks.

2. Chicago Bears. NFC North champions. First round bye. Will host highest seed remaining at home in two weeks.

3. Philadelphia Eagles. NFC East champions. Will host sixth seed at Lincoln Financial Field next week.

4. St. Louis Rams. NFC West leader. Would earn fourth seed and win division with win over Seahawks; will be eliminated from playoff contention with loss.

5. New Orleans Saints. NFC wild card team. Will play at fourth seed Rams or Seahawks next week.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NFC wild card leader. Needs losses by Packers and Giants to keep sixth seed. Would play at Eagles next week.

Green Bay Packers. Control their own destiny in NFC playoff picture. Would earn sixth seed with win over Bears. Will be eliminated from playoff contention with loss or tie. Would play at Eagles next week.

New York Giants. Still alive in NFC playoff picture. Would earn sixth seed with win over Redskins and Packers loss to Bears. Will be eliminated from playoff contention with loss or tie. Would play at Eagles next week.

Seattle Seahawks. Control their own destiny in NFC West. Would win division and earn fourth seed with win over Rams. Would host Saints next week.