The NFC South is so bad as a division that all four teams are filled with playoff optimism despite having horrible records.
Bucs head coach Lovie Smith met the media on Monday after the latest Bucs loss and talked about whether he would start giving more playing time to younger players as his 2-9 team played out the final five weeks.
Smith stated that he wouldn’t feature all his younger players, because the 2-9 Bucs are still in the mix for a playoff spot.
Smith made those comments even before the Saints loss to the Ravens.
“We’re two games out of first place,” Smith said, via ESPN.com. “We are still in the playoff hunt. So there’s no looking at younger players — it’s who gives us our best chance to win, period. So it’s pretty easy for us right now. Forget the record right now; everyone in the NFC South is disappointed and has let games get away and feel like they’re a pretty good football team — we’re right in the mix of that. So it’s full steam ahead for Cincinnati for us.”
The Bucs really are still are in the NFC South hunt. They have five games left to play, including contests with New Orleans and Carolina.