Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The NFL Season Is Already Off Target

The season’s targeted expectations are off, that is.

The NFL season got off to a robust start with fireworks and rocking music from stars Taylor Swift and the Dave Matthews Band this week in New Orleans. The Super Bowl XLIV winner, New Orleans Saints, and 2009 NFC conference championship opponent, Minnesota Vikings, provided the contact action for the gala stand-alone first 2010 NFL game.

The event resulted in a record 27.5 million viewers. That’s huge. That’s above targeted numbers.

Instead of the expected offensive explosion often exhibited by both teams in the recent past, the entertaining game was a defensive struggle. The Saints prevailed 14-9. That’s below target.

Gulp. The Bucs have to play the Saints twice. That’s on target.

The Bucs weren’t the only team members glued to hi-def screens to dissect every moment during the 2010 inaugural four quarters of hikes, passes, runs, and tackles.

The Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers have to play the Super Bowl champs twice too. It’s not wishful thinking that some experts pick Matt Ryan and the Atlanta squad to take the NFC South this year, coming off a 9-7 season. Ryan and team are expected to click. 

Gulp. Gulp. The Bucs have to play the Falcons twice.

Add to NFC South competition that the Carolina Panthers, a historic rivalry, are rebuilding with a team of youthful, unseasoned players like the Buccaneers. It’s difficult to predict what that mix of young talent will produce through those two games. 

One schedule factor is in the Buccaneer’s favor. The Saints play the Bucs for the last game of the season. Since New Orleans will no doubt make the playoffs, even though the majority of Super Bowl champs for the past decade have fizzled after their epic win. The Buccaneers are unlikely to make to playoffs, so that game will likely have the Saints starters on the sidelines. 

Certainly, surprises will occur during the next 16 games for 32 teams in 2010. Wins targeted by some teams and fans will be losses. That’s the NFL, and the reason why “Any given Sunday” has real meaning. 

Most experts pick the Buccaneers will head right  to the bottom of the rankings. The same experts will adjust their thoughts, before the final game if it doesn’t happen.

As always, the reason some teams surprise and some teams disappoint is that the NFL insists that every game is played. 

The NFL does a great job of insuring that there will 15 playing minutes--every quarter for four quarters.

It’s up to the Buccaneers to ignore the targeting by others, and make the very best of the time allotted. It’s the field time that will render surprises.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com