NFL Rankings Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With 10 games remaining, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face six teams with winning records. The Falcons and Seahawks lead their divisions. Three teams have losing records. The Panthers, Lions and 49ers have won only one game. 

The Buccaneers rallied against the emerging defensive team in the St. Louis Rams with a late-game win, and now face a struggling Arizona Cardinal team with a low-ranking offense and defense on the road.

Still, what looked like a tough schedule coming out of preseason appears to have stiffened early and remains a solid challenge.

The Bucs now have four away games out of five and one home game against NFC South leader Atlanta Falcons.

Rushing offense has improved with running back LeGarrette Blount’s power surge, and that has finally lifted that low ranking.

Even as the rushing defense continued to be the Buccaneers’ weakest field display, the passing defense edged up to sixth overall in the NFL.

The second youngest squad in the NFL will have to continue to grow fast together to overcome seasoned opponents.

Stats don’t generate points; teams generate stats. So, as always, it’s one game at a time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Remaining 2010 Schedule

Games: Four home, six away

Arizona Cardinals (3-3) (away)
Atlanta Falcons (5-2) (away)
Carolina Panthers (1-5) (home)
San Francisco 49ers (1-6) (away)
Baltimore Ravens (5-2) (away)
Atlanta Falcons (5-2) (home)
Washington Redskins (4-3) (away)
Detroit Lions (1-5) (home)
Seattle Seahawks (4-2) (home)
New Orleans Saints (4-3) (away)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals Rankings

(www.NFL.com)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)

Offense
Rushing 22nd = 96.7 yards per game 
Passing 19th = 210.8 yards per game
Total 18th = 307.5 yards per game

Defense
Rushing 31st = 157.7 yards per game
Passing sixth = 196.2 yards per game
Total 22nd = 353.8 yards per game

Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

Offense
Rushing 28th = 91.7 yards per game
Passing 32nd = 146.2 yards per game
Total 32nd = 237.8 yards per game

Defense
Rushing 29th = 141.3 yards per game
Passing 21st = 227.3 yards per game
Total 27th = 368.7 yards per game

Offense/Defense Matchup

Cardinals rank 28th in rushing offense, Bucs rank 31st in rushing defense.
Bucs rank 22nd in rushing offense, Cardinals rank 29th in rushing defense. 
Cardinals rank 32nd in passing offense, Bucs rank sixth in passing defense.
Bucs rank 19th in passing offense, Cardinals rank 21st in passing defense.

Photo credit: Dwight Drum @ Racetake.com