Repeat?
The 2008 NFL Schedule was unleashed on the world this week. Let’s take a gander at the Bucs’ slate, shall we? The schedule features a brace of Sunday Night collisions, and one foray onto the Worldwide Leader’s Monday telecast.
First Quarter
@NO, ATL, @CHI, GB
A fast start here and the lads could be in contention early. Atlanta will likely still be in dis-array. Even if their new coach, GM, and players really are the answer; it’s not likely they’ll show it only two weeks into the season. Chicago and wayward Rex Grossman should prove to be a nice feast for the resurgent Bucs’ Defense. What do we get with Green Bay and Aaron Rogers at this point? And then there’s New Orleans. Super Bowl contenders one year, listless punching bags the next.
I’m going to predict 3-1 to start.
Second Quarter
@DEN, CAR, SEA*, @DAL
If you take past performance as an indicator of future success, this would appear to be the Bucs’ toughest stretch of the season. If Jake Delhomme is really back the Panthers go from zeroes to contenders. Unless there’s some kind of cosmic inversion, the Cowboys should still be pretty good in 2008. And the Seahawks (who we’ll face on NBC’s Sunday Night Football presentation) are tied with the Patriots for 2nd longest active playoff appearance streak (5 seasons).
TALB will be happy to see the Bucs emerge 2-2 (5-3) at the turn. If those two wins are against Carolina and Dallas, that should put the Bucs near the top of the division and conference standings.
Third Quarter
@KC, bye, MIN, @DET, NO
I don’t see any evidence that suggests either the Chiefs or Lions will significantly improve in 2008 as compared to 2007. See above for my take on New Orleans. Minnesota brings a potent attack that will challenge the Bucs’ defense. But they’re used to stopping the best running backs and QBs in the NFL.
Should the Bucs be contending for a playoff spot, the Bye will be perfect. The lads can rest up and heal up ahead of a run toward the tournament. Let’s call this one another 3-1 affair (putting them at 8-4).
Stretch Run
@CAR+, @ATL, SD*, OAK
Danger! If Carolina is still bad, this could be a minefield. Especially if the Bucs have clinched or are close to clinching a playoff spot already. Atlanta and Oakland will be bad. This could very well mirror the situation from 2007 where the Bucs had nothing to play for standings-wise in December. We can only hope that either Carolina is much improved (giving incentive) and/or Gruden learned something last year. Because we don’t need to listlessly stroll into the playoffs again.
I’m going to call this 2-2, leaving the Bucs at 10-6. Possibly repeating as Dirty Souf Champs, and hosting another Wild Card game. But I don’t see any reason why they can’t nut up and roll through these four games, emerging 12-4. And spending the next weekend watching football instead of playing.
(+ MNF, * SNF)
Thoughts?
