With the advancement of technology, you can now Chargers, Buccaneers look to stay in postseason conversation
Back-to-back defeats haven't helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' chances for postseason contention. The San Diego Chargers, meanwhile, have kept themselves in the mix behind consecutive victories.
As each team continues to battle for a playoff spot, the Buccaneers put their perfect home record on the line Sunday as they match up against a Chargers team that is riding a late-season surge for a second straight year.
Tampa Bay (9-5) was cruising toward the postseason entering Week 14, but has stumbled in its last two contests. After falling at Carolina on Dec. 8, the Buccaneers were slowed by a 13-10 overtime loss at Atlanta last Sunday that put the teams into a second-place tie in the NFC South, with both trailing Carolina by two games.
Still, Tampa Bay can clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a win over San Diego (6-8), a loss by Atlanta and a loss by either Dallas or Philadelphia.
The Chargers' postseason hopes were hampered by three straight losses at the end of November, but they've won both games this month, rallying for a 22-21 win at Kansas City last Sunday to improve to 12-0 in December contests since 2006.
To stay alive, second-place San Diego needs to beat Tampa Bay and hope AFC West-leading Denver falls to visiting Buffalo on Sunday.
Last season, the Chargers rode a six-game winning streak into the playoffs before falling to New England in the conference championship. But while coach Norv Turner is hopeful, he knows his team's quest this season is a bit more grueling.
"We've known it's going to be difficult, but the only control we have is getting ready to go play and play at the best level we can in Tampa," Turner told the Chargers' official Web site. "We're playing a very good football team that has a lot to play for. It'll be a real challenge for us."
Tampa Bay's defense is smarting after allowing big efforts on the ground in its last two contests. Carolina rushed for 299 yards in its 38-23 win on Dec. 8 before Atlanta amassed 175 yards on the ground last weekend against the Buccaneers.
Defensive tackles Chris Hovan and Jovan Haye both missed last week's loss with knee injuries, but are expected to be back Sunday. Defensive ends Gaines Adams and Greg White, however, are both battling injuries before this game.
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