The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just won one of their messiest games ever to win the NFC South. It wasn't pretty, but that win did show that the Bucs still haven't lost control of the very weak NFC South.

Last year, the Buccaneers were in a very similar position after the final game of the season. The Bucs never really looked convincing during the regular season, and this led to Tampa getting steamrolled by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs. 

That could all change this season with the Bucs drawing the Eagles in the first round. It looks like the Buccaneers have another chance to disappoint the Eagles in the playoffs based on the recent performances for both teams.

The Buccaneers may have played an ugly brand of football over the past few months, but it is hard to say that their games have been worse than the Eagles'. At least the Bucs have been winning games.

The Eagles are another story.

Philly may have started the year off hot, but they have been one of the worst teams in the NFL over the past month. The Eagles have been dominated by everyone, even the inferior teams, and there shouldn't be one Eagles fan in the world that feels confident about going on the road and beating any team, especially not in a playoff environment.

If the Giants' defense (amongst others) was able to make the Eagles look silly, just imagine what the far-superior Buccaneer defense will be able to do when these teams meet next week.

It seems like history has a unique sense of humor. This is not the first time the Bucs have drawn the Eagles in the playoffs, and recent history tells us that Bucs fans should be very hopeful with this game.

Tampa has met Philly in the playoffs five times before this year. The results of those games have gone in Tampa's favor three of the five times (with a win streak of two for the Buccaneers right now; 2021 and 2002).

Even Bucs fans that weren't alive in 2002 know the importance of that game. This year could be similar.

The Bucs also played the Eagles during the regular season in 2002. They lost that game, just like they did against this Eagles this year. Still, playoff football is a different animal entirely, and much like that year, the Bucs are coming into this game with the far better defense.

If the Buccaneers play on defense like they did back in 2002, life could become Hell for the Eagles very fast, and history would repeat itself in the worst way for Philly fans.

Winning a playoff game would be huge for this Bucs team. It is certainly on the table.

Can the Buccaneers win the NFC South?

Is all of the fuss for nothing?