Odds Of Super Bowl Repeat Diminish The Tampa Tribune, published 17 November 2003 Scoreboards across the NFL were not kind to Tampa Bay on Sunday, and now the Bucs find themselves likely having to win their final six games just to have a chance for a playoff spot. Green Bay's 20-13 triumph dropped Tampa Bay to 4-6, and suddenly a 9-7 mark no longer appears to be good enough to contend for one of six NFC playoff berths. Carolina moved to 8-2 and is in firm control of the NFC South. Philadelphia, Seattle and St. Louis all improved to 7-3 on Sunday with victories. Dallas dropped to 7-3 with its loss Sunday night to New England. The Packers and Saints, each 5-5, are also ahead of the Bucs, along with 4-5 San Francisco, which plays Pittsburgh tonight. ``There isn't any way we are getting to this point and laying down,'' vowed Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp. ``We have six more ballgames, and you're going to get our best.'' The task ahead of the Super Bowl champions is formidable. A team that hasn't managed to string together back-to-back victories will attempt to end the regular season with a six- game winning streak. Even if the Bucs finish 10-6, they could still be left out of the postseason chase because Tampa Bay needs a lot of help along the way. For instance, in the NFC East, the Eagles and Cowboys could win four of their last six and finish 11-5. The Seahawks and Rams are competing for the NFC West title. Like Dallas and Philadelphia, Seattle and St. Louis own at least a two-game lead against the rest of the wild- card field. And their margin against teams such as Tampa Bay, New York and Washington is three games with six games remaining. ``It's very shocking,'' said wide receiver Keenan McCardell, who provided Tampa Bay's only touchdown with a 3-yard reception. ``We've got a lot of talent in this room. I don't know how, I don't why, but we're 4-6.'' Tampa Bay was 8-2 at this point a year ago, and Coach Jon Gruden sounded distraught Sunday after the Bucs had almost as many penalties (eight) as first downs (10). ``The playoffs are a gauge as to who's competing for the world championship,'' Gruden said. ``Certainly, we have our work cut out for us. We're not playing the football game, particularly offensively, with the etiquette in which this game calls for.''