Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A Hard Look At the 2010 Schedule

Not many analysts or fans picked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be undefeated any time of the new season, but the 16-game NFL schedule that features clashes of Titans is only two games old.

Seven other teams are perfect also, but only four face each other in Game 3. One undefeated matchup is between the Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Buccaneers fans are hopeful that they see a repetition of wins, but a look at the schedule indicates a tough ascent.

Home field advantage isn’t as great a factor as was once recognized, but travel fatigue and avid supporters screaming at the right time still have effects. The Buccaneers have seven games remaining at Raymond James Stadium. Three games are conference events where the Bucs face the potent New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. One game is against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.

Winning five of those seven home games would lift the young team’s chances of playoff participation. 

Two games don’t tell all certainly, but eight NFL teams have yet to win a game and Tampa plays four of those. 

So if the Bucs triumph over the losing teams they face, they still need to defeat some or most of the one-and-one teams on their schedule. If they defeat most, they will very likely be in the playoffs.

The Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, and Seattle Seahawks have each gone 1-1. Besides facing the Saints and Falcons twice, these teams represent the strength of the schedule. If the Bucs perform well against this power center, then hopes of postseason play go up substantially.

As few expect a Buccaneer playoff berth and many choose the Saints to repeat as Super Bowl champs, the last game of the season could be significant, but only for the Bucs.

The Saints will likely carry a good record into New Orleans for their home game against the Buccaneers. If the Bucs aren’t playoff bound, they would be playing out the season just hoping for another win. 

The Saints aren’t likely to play their starters much or at all going into the playoffs. If the Bucs are in the playoffs, or need that win for the playoff berth, then it’s a huge day for them. For New Orleans it’s only important as momentum or home field advantage given their win-loss record going into the last game of the season.

One factor is certain and needs no mathematical analysis—a whole lot of exciting football remains during the next 56 quarters for 32 teams.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com