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          NFL Nation

          Buccaneers still in NFC South race

          • Pat Yasinskas, ESPN Staff WriterOct 21, 2014, 08:35 AM ET
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            • Previously covered NFC South for ESPN.com
            • Covered Panthers for The Charlotte Observer from 1999-2008
            • Began journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990
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          TAMPA, Fla. -- They're 1-5, which would have them out of just about every division race.

          But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in the NFC South, a division that no one is running away with. The Bucs are only one game behind Atlanta and New Orleans in the win column. And they're not all that far behind division leader Carolina (3-2-1). The Bucs were on a bye Sunday as all three other division teams lost.

          "I watched all of the games this week," Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith said. "I know what happened in our division. I realize how many games we're out of first place. We're in it as much as anyone with our record. That's what we're focusing on. Again, there's life when you take a little bit of time off to not play a game and end up in a better position than when we started the Sunday. We're in a lot better of a position now. We're excited about that.”

          The Bucs could be a lot more excited if they could string together some victories. There is no denying their start has been dismal. But the rest of the NFC South has been unable to pull far away from the Bucs.

          Tampa Bay didn't help itself by losing to all three division opponents the first time around. But the Bucs might be able to pull back into the division race if they can beat Carolina, Atlanta and New Orleans the second time around.