In 2021 and 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won consecutive division titles for the first time in franchise history and liked it so much they repeated again in 2023. Now the Buccaneers have extended their stranglehold on the NFC South to four straight seasons.
With a 27-19 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 18, the Buccaneers clinched the NFC South and locked themselves into either the third or fourth seed in the conference playoff field, depending on the outcome of the Rams-Seahawks game later in the afternoon. This marks the 10th time Tampa Bay has finished first in its division and the seventh since the NFC South was formed in 2002.
In addition to these last four seasons, the Buccaneers also won the NFC Central in 1979, 1981 and 1999 and the NFC South in 2002, 2005 and 2007.
The Buccaneers four straight NFC South titles are not only the best run in franchise history but equal to the longest streak by any team in the division since it was formed in 2002. The Saints won the four division crowns immediately preceding the Bucs' current run, from 2017-20.
The Buccaneers have now qualified for the postseason in five consecutive seasons, with their Wild Card berth in 2020 leading to a thrilling run to Super Bowl LV, in which they became the first team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium. This is the longest sustained run of playoff contention in the franchise's 49-season history, surpassing the team's four-year postseason streak from 1999-2002, which culminated in victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.
The Buccaneers are one of only three teams in the NFL that have qualified for the playoffs in each of the last five seasons.. The Kansas City Chiefs improved their current streak to 10 seasons this year and the Buffalo Bills improved their run to six seasons.
Overall, this is the 15th season that has ended in a playoff berth for the Buccaneers. In addition to their 10 division titles they were also Wild Card entrants in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2020. After a players' strike reduced the 1982 regular season to nine games, the NFL conducted a "Super Bowl tournament" that included eight teams from each conference, and the Buccaneers got in as the NFC's seventh seed.
All four division winners in the conference are guaranteed at least one home playoff game. The first seed gets a bye in the Wild Card round and the other three division winners host the three Wild Card participants. If the Buccaneers end up as the third seed following the Rams outcome, they will begin at home against the Commanders. If they end up as the fourth seed, they will play host to the loser of Sunday's night showdown between the 14-2 Minnesota Vikings and the 14-2 Detroit Lions.
