I heard John Clayton say last night that the Bucs have the easiest schedule in the league in 2007 and that the team with the easiest schedule has made the playoffs very frequently in recent years(its some ridiculous streak, but i dont remember how long)....he also made is sound like the Comeback Player of the Year award was in the bag for Jeff Garcia(i know he has the "I married the hottest girl on the planet and you didnt, so whos gay now T.O." award sewn up)....thoughts on the Bucs chances?
<font size="2"><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I just can't imagine the Buccaneers finishing ahead of the Saints. I think the Saints are in good shape for a Super Bowl run. I can't say the same for the Bucs. </font></font>
last year it was the Saints with the easiset schedule and a brand new passer with less than stellar arm strength....the Saints caught lightning in a bottle, but part of it was the schedule....
<font size="2"><font face="trebuchet ms,geneva">Brees may not have a rocket arm, but he clearly was one of the NFL's best QBs last year. He seems to make really good decisions. I don't see a reason for much of a dropoff this year. I think Reggie Bush finished his rookie year much stronger than he started it, so I look for him to have more consistant production from start to finish this year. Plus, the Saints still have McAllister. The Bucs may be better this year, but Garcia is brand new to the Bucs and Cadillac Williams only gained 789 yards last year which was a dropoff from the year before. I guess time will tell, but I still have the Saints winning this division this year. </font></font>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'><font size="2"><font face="tahoma,arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I just can't imagine the Buccaneers finishing ahead of the Saints. I think the Saints are in good shape for a Super Bowl run. I can't say the same for the Bucs. </font></font></div></p> Yeah I agree as well and if Reggie Bush continues to improve like most think he is capable of then the Saints could win I think 12 or 13 games this year. I see Tampa as a 7 or 8 win team and 3rd in the division. </p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="2" width="100%"><tbody><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Sep 6</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Indianapolis</font></td><td align="left">8:30pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Sep 16</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Tampa Bay</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Sep 24</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Tennessee</font></td><td align="left">8:30pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Week4</td><td align="left">BYE</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Oct 7</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Carolina</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Oct 14</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Seattle</font></td><td align="left">8:15pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Oct 21</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Atlanta</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Oct 28</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@San Francisco</font></td><td align="left">4:15pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Nov 4</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Jacksonville</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Nov 11</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">St. Louis</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Nov 18</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Houston</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Nov 25</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Carolina</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Dec 2</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Tampa Bay</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Dec 10</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Atlanta</font></td><td align="left">8:30pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Dec 16</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Arizona</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Dec 23</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">Philadelphia</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr><tr class="bg2" height="17" align="right" valign="middle"><td align="left">Dec 30</td><td align="left"><font color="#000099">@Chicago</font></td><td align="left">1:00pm</td><td align="left"></td><td align="left"></td></tr></tbody></table> </p> </p> Thats the Saints schedule....I dont see 12 wins there, I see about 9, maybe 10 and I wouldnt be shocked if they fell to 6....the Saints will score points, but the defense isnt good, so they better score early and often, get leads, and make teams one dimensional or they could have major problems</p>
One thing I have noticed in the NFL is that to expect the unexpected. That division is a three team toss up if you ask me.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giantsfan1)</div><div class='quotemain'>One thing I have noticed in the NFL is that to expect the unexpected. That division is a three team toss up if you ask me.</div></p> </p> which of those teams is left out? they all seem like contenders to win that division to me </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'>Thats the Saints schedule....I dont see 12 wins there, I see about 9, maybe 10 and I wouldnt be shocked if they fell to 6....the Saints will score points, but the defense isnt good, so they better score early and often, get leads, and make teams one dimensional or they could have major problems</div></p> Well if Reggie Bush does continue to grow like some thing they should be better. I'm not saying he will but if he does they certainly have one of the more versatile players in the league and maybe ever. The schedule doesn't look to hard. I'm not that big on the Falcons this year. In fact I think they will stink so I wouldn't be shocked to see a sweep. Same with the NFC West opponents. The Rams, Niners, and Cardinals still don't impress me and I could see they going 3-1 against that division. The only real tough games I see on their schedule is Chicago, Indy, Seattle and Philly. Maybe Carolina but you never know what your going to get with them. </p>
I think the 49ers are a team that is about to take a major step forward....they keep having quality drafts, Alex Smith began to mature last year, Frank Gore is a beast, and I wouldnt be surprised if Vernon Davis emerged big time....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Giantsfan1)</div><div class='quotemain'>One thing I have noticed in the NFL is that to expect the unexpected. That division is a three team toss up if you ask me.</div></p> </p> which of those teams is left out? they all seem like contenders to win that division to me</p> </div></p> </p> I don;t see Carolina being that great this year. Delhomme is done IMO, the defense has lost its dominance over teh last two years. No steady RB, a average line. Steve Smith and Peppers are probably the only two consistent players on that team.</p>
I heard since 2000 when the NFL put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints in the same division that the team that finished last would end up winning the divison the next season. I think I heard that on ESPN.
They could possibly finish 2nd in the South, but I don't see them winning more games than New Orleans.
<font face="times new roman,times" size="3" color="#000080">Gotta agree w/ Porky thatCarolina could bethe favorite. They appear to be the most complete butare quite flaky.</font></p> <font face="times new roman,times" size="3" color="#000080">Tampa IMO isthe oddteam out. The Bucs D got old really fast and the WR corps won't strike fear into many secondaries. </font></p> <font face="times new roman,times" size="3" color="#000080">I'd give ATL the nod if they had a passing attack</font></p>
<font face="comic sans ms,sand" size="4" color="#ffff00" style="background-color: #ff0000">Delhomme will have to step his game up from last year for that to even be a remote possibility.</font></p> <font face="Comic Sans MS" size="4" color="#ffff00" style="background-color: #ff0000">Tampa...lol!</font></p>
the reaction in this thread is exactly why the league is so unpredictable....but, John Clayton, who I respect, isolated an interesting trend and that trend is that the team with the weakest schedule makes the playoffs....so if you want to make some cash, call your bookie and start putting down some coin on a prop bet every year that the team with the weakest will make the playoffs, and you will win more than lose....
it's a sad thing admit, but it's true. The Saints look like complete garbage. We'll see how they look against a good Seahawks team tonight. We need a win to start a turn around.</p>
