2014 Opponents Set
December 31st, 2013
Lost in the chaos of Team Glazer doing a MRSA-like delousing of their football organization is the fact the Bucs now know who they will be playing both at home and on the road in 2014.
So, courtesy of NFL.com, here are the Bucs’ opponents next season.
Home games: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals.
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Now the home schedule doesn’t look so bad whatsoever. The Packers are always good with Aaron Rodgers, the Rams very easily could be a darkhorse next season and, of course, the Crows and the Bengals are good teams.
Bucs could have done a lot worse.
December 31st, 2013 at 3:01 pm
If we can get a competent staff with the talent we have, I could see next year as a somewhat favorable schedule… Not counting the brutal NFC South, of course (I see Atlanta getting back on their feet)…
December 31st, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Tough schedule!
December 31st, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Our new HC, Jay Gruden, will face his former team. Oh my!!
December 31st, 2013 at 3:14 pm
I am usually an optimist….but I would consider 8-8 a good year under the circumstances…..
December 31st, 2013 at 3:17 pm
@nic – why aware the falcons’ injuries an excuse for poor performance so they’re expected to bounce back once that’s taken care of but we’re in crisis management when we has the same injuries to key personnel. Why can’t we bounce back too once our injured players are back?
December 31st, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Tough schedule for a 4-12 team and a new coach.
December 31st, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Cause Atlanta has Matt Ryan and a good coach.
December 31st, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Wow. I just looked at that and counted 5 wins. It’s a damn shame how much my outlook has changed recently.
December 31st, 2013 at 4:01 pm
Patrick you seem to have me mistaken for someone else, I never said we couldn’t bounce back. Since we’re on the topic though, the Bucs offense is not as in good of shape as we thought, but it’s possible. Doug Martin was being ran into brick walls every Sunday until Schiano sent him on a fly route to IR. Mike Williams is great, but unless he’s catching passes 3 yds short of the sticks, Glennon’s not getting him the ball. For this reason, if the Bucs can’t grab a viable QB, they need to get a legitimate slot receiver in the early rounds that can turn these checkdowns into yardage.
In the case of the Falcons 4-12 season, that is as much of a fluke as our 2010 10-6 season.
We have the AFC and NFC north next season… Both of these divisions are only sending one team to the playoffs this year (with the Packers limping in a’la 2009 Seahawks) so outside of the AFC/NFC east (which is always unpredictable) so this should be seen as good news for our once again “rebuilding” team.
December 31st, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Guess we shall see next year
December 31st, 2013 at 5:07 pm
@nic – you’re right. Looking back at what you wrote I believe I may have merged in my mind your comment with others i’ve read. I was writing from my phone at a red light so I wasn’t able to go back and reread (because heaven forbid you guys be denied my nuggets of wisdom).
I’m less concerned about our first team talent as I am about the huge drop off from first to second team. I think some pepper coaching and even serviceable game day play calling/game management will make a world of difference.
December 31st, 2013 at 5:30 pm
The schedule looks tougher than this past one just finished. Parity accross the league is heightened like never before. The Bucs will win more games next year than they did this year, at least half of them.
December 31st, 2013 at 5:49 pm
It’s a feather of a schedule for you newbies. Do some research. Glennon will develop. He played with a #3 running back, no tight end to speak of, a wide receiver that wouldn’t make most pro teams, and a putrid OL.
December 31st, 2013 at 10:28 pm
@Bucfan#37
I hope you’re right about the Bucs winning at least half of them. It’s been shown by team Glazer that a new coach will have two years to produce a winning record before he is shown the door. I’d rather not see the team start the HC search once again for a new HC in December of 2015.
January 1st, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Is there any word on when the video screens are being replaced in the stadium. I’m looking at getting season tickets but I can’t stand the low def screens.