Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Schedule and Ranking Analysis

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at 3-1, have six home and six away games remaining in the 2010 season, and face six teams with records at .500 and above. 

Four teams have losing records below .500. The Bucs play the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons twice. 

As always, the most important number analysis is simply one game at a time, but observing the win/loss records of opponents is relevant. The offensive and defensive yards-per-game rankings of the Buccaneers versus the next opponent, the Saints, deserves attention as well.

Remaining Buccaneers' Schedule, With Win/Loss Records

New Orleans Saints (3-2) (home)
St. Louis Rams (2-3) (home)
Arizona Cardinals (3-2) (away)
Atlanta Falcons (4-1) (away)
Carolina Panthers (0-5) (home)
San Francisco 49ers (0-5) (away)
Baltimore Ravens (4-1) (away)
Atlanta Falcons (4-1) (home)
Washington Redskins (3-2) (away)
Detroit Lions (1-4) (home)
Seattle Seahawks (2-2) (home)
New Orleans Saints (3-2) (away)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Rankings, according to www.NFL.com

Offense

Rushing 18th—103.5 yards per game
Passing 19th—210.2 yards per game
Total 21st—313.8 yards per game

Defense

Rushing 30th—143.2 yards per game
Passing ninth—197.5 yards per game
Total 18th—340.8 yards per game

New Orleans Saints' Rankings According to www.NFL.com

Offense

Rushing 31st—75.6 yards per game
Passing fifth—271.2 yards per game
Total 10th—346.8 yards per game

Defense

Rushing 22nd—118.8 yards per game
Passing seventh—187.6 yards per game
Total ninth—306.4 yards per game

In summary

Saints rank 31st in rushing offense, Bucs rank 30th in rushing defense.

Saints rank fifth in passing offense, Bucs rank ninth in passing defense.

Bucs rank 18th in rushing offense, Saints rank 22nd in rushing defense. 

Bucs rank 19th in passing offense, Saints rank seventh in passing defense.

If the Buccaneers’ passing game is anything like last week’s 284 total yards, and the offense improves the rushing average while the Saints don’t improve, it could add up to another victory.

Comparing rankings after the most significant numbers generated from the next game—the scoring—will sometimes reveal trends in the making. 

It’s all about the quest for the next “W," but numbers along the way sometimes illuminate the path.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum