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NFL Playoffs 2015: Five reasons the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can make it in

By John Buhler

Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) leaves the filed after their game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts won over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25-12. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) leaves the filed after their game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts won over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25-12. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) leaves the filed after their game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts won over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25-12. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) leaves the filed after their game at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts won over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 25-12. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports /

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter their Week 13 battle with division rival Atlanta with a 5-6 record and are very much alive in the NFC Wild Card hunt.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their eyes set on making the NFC Playoffs for the first time since Jon Gruden was their head coach back in 2007. Tampa sits at 5-6 with five games remaining in their 2015 season schedule and are in a good spot for a postseason push.

They have a vastly improving offense with rookie quarterback Jameis Winston growing in new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s system. The Buccaneers have already more than doubled their win total from a year ago. This team that finished with the worst record in the NFL the year before at 2-14 has the ability to finish with a record above .500 and make the playoffs in 2015.

Tampa Bay will have to earn either Wild Card spot, as their sixth loss on the season to the Indianapolis Colts knocked them out of the NFC South race. The Bucs can finish no better than 10-6 in 2015, while NFC South leading Carolina will finish no worse than 11-5 on the year. Carolina has yet to lose a regular season game in over a calendar year.

It’s not going to come easily, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a better shot at making the playoffs than their 5-6 record indicates. After the 8-3 NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings, there isn’t a dominant team that could make the Wild Card.

Recent struggles by Atlanta and Green Bay have left the door wide open for some team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to come on in and take an NFC Wild Card spot. Here are five reasons Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ fans can feel good about their team possibly making the NFC Playoffs in 2015.

Next: 1. The Dirk Koetter Offense

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