Strength Of Schedule
May 10th, 2021
Easy schedule?
If you believe the numbers, the Bucs are going to have a cakewalk in 2021.
Strength of schedule is always a dicey calculation. Many fans hate it, claiming it is grossly inaccurate. TV talking heads and loud sports radio hosts love it because it eats up valuable minutes of a broadcast day and generates calls on slow news days.
One reason strength of schedule is misleading is it is based on the previous year’s records. It doesn’t factor in roster changes, among other things.
For example, teams may have improved through the draft and free agency. Other teams may have gotten worse from retirements and free agency losses.
Former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter always said that one-third of teams’ rosters generally change each year.
So with all that in mind, Joe Rivera of The Sporting News seems to think the Bucs are going to waltz into the playoffs. By Rivera’s calculations, the Bucs have the No. 29 strength of schedule.
That’s the kind of soft schedule New England enjoyed when the Dolphins were a joke, the Bills were bungling and the Jets were the Jets. So a soft schedule is nothing new to park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs–Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
Per Rivera, the combined records of the Bucs’ 2021 opponents was 126-145-1 last season, or a .465 winning percentage.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:05 pm
Remember early in the 2020 season when the pundits claimed that our Bucs couldn’t beat any competitive teams…
Pepperidge Farms remembers.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:09 pm
Agre with you Joe, strength of schedule can be misleading for any number of reasons. We’ll be playing 7 games against teams that made the playoffs last year, plus games against several other teams that potentially have become more competitive since 2020. One thing I love about Tom Brady: he doesn’t take ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. Bucs will improve also.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
That’s an awesome pic!
Like Freddy Krueger and Heisenberg had a baby.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Both NFC and AFC east will be better than last year but still way better than playing the NFC and AFC west. Rams, Colts, and Bears won’t be walks in the park but it’s more of a bummer for them playing the Bucs than the other way around. We should win the division and have a shot at home field advantage.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
One reason why the Bucs, with the gods shining down on Tom Brady, have a legit opportunity for a perfect season. If they are able to secure a first round bye in the playoffs, the odds go up even more. Still a long shot, I know, but not as far fetched as some may think. The final feather in TB’s cap!
May 10th, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Licht completely blowing the 2nd Rd pick like a drunken doofus is going to cause two losses
May 10th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Pete, I bet it doesn’t.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:44 pm
If there was a Who Framed Roger Rabbit II he would be the main antagonist.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Good one D-Rome! 🤣
May 10th, 2021 at 2:50 pm
Strength of schedule is an interesting discussion. There are plenty of us that think this team will play better this season. Gotta like the odds of our 22 playing better than those mid to low tier teams that have to hope their selections all pan out. Looking forward to more complete games during the regular season.
May 10th, 2021 at 2:51 pm
P.S. I just checked out Heisenburg on the WEB. I did find a picture of him wearing that type of hat. 😃
May 10th, 2021 at 3:26 pm
THANK GOD there was never a Who Framed Roger Rabbit II. Bob Hoskins said that was the biggest mistake of his life.
May 10th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Anyone who creates a username such “Medicated Pete,” tells a lot about the person. Do you really expect others to take you serious? Obviously you need help in more than one area.
May 10th, 2021 at 3:33 pm
Strength of Schedule is meaning less in the world of Free Agency.
And as defending Super Bowl Champions, every team is going to give us their best effort.
I do not care about Brees being gone, or Matty Ice being worried if he or his #1 WR will be traded or the Panthers trying out another QB.
Division Rivals are Division Rivals – underestimate them at your peril
Then the big game on the road to Foxboro.
We will have our hands full.
May 10th, 2021 at 3:33 pm
That second to last paragraph was exactly what I was thinking before getting to it ! Playing in the AFC East Brady has had a cake walk most of his career. Seems penalties, bad calls and strength of schedule all go Tommy’s way , good for us finally !
May 10th, 2021 at 3:37 pm
Do u know how many times that AFC East crap has been debunked. Brady has pretty much the same winning percentage against the rest of the league.
May 10th, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Brady better be glad he doesn’t play in the NFC with Rogers and Brees. Wait , what?
May 10th, 2021 at 3:42 pm
Flip the stats. And that’s accurate.
May 10th, 2021 at 3:43 pm
Not every stat last year is same the following year. Flip the stats.
May 10th, 2021 at 3:49 pm
There is no such thing as a cakewalk game, team, schedule, division, whatever, in the NFL.
Our SB Champion Bucs lost to the Bears, almost lost to the Giants, and were dpwm 17 points to each of the lowly Falcons and the lowly Chargers.
The only true bludgeoning the Bucs administered was to the Lions, where the game was over by the end of the first quarter.
Then the toughest playoff game was to the Washington FT.
I don’t want to hear about easy schedules. It’s the NFL. These toads who use history alone to project what will happen in the future are knuckleheads.
Hello, Cynthis Frelund?!
May 10th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
The Brady Effect.
– Weaker Schedules
– More primetime games
– No more extended roadtrips (See 2019)
The NFL is finally catering toward the Bucs.
May 10th, 2021 at 4:05 pm
swamp
well said!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 10th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
AlabamaBucsFan Says:
May 10th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Anyone who creates a username such “Medicated Pete,” tells a lot about the person. Do you really expect others to take you serious? Obviously you need help in more than one area.
_________
Don’t read too much into screen names AlabamaMan.
If screen names were indicative of the poster I guess we could all assume that you are sweet on your sister and like to milk bulls in your spare time.
May 10th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
To make the point, every team that played the 2020 Bucs had a softer schedule although the team went on to win the Super Bowl.
May 10th, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Dooosh – ROTFLMAO! You win the Internet today!
May 10th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
0-0 start for everyone. One game at a time.
May 10th, 2021 at 10:40 pm
A little of The Mask and Fire Marshall Bill. Ewww.
May 10th, 2021 at 10:57 pm
^^^^^
Even better!
😃
May 11th, 2021 at 3:51 am
The Saints stomped our a$$es twice last year and the Falcons are dangerous with all of the weapons that they have. The Bills and Indy are good teams. The Bears and Rams beat us last year, and look to be even better. This dude is off his rocker man.
May 11th, 2021 at 7:46 am
Results talks, bs walks. All the preseason bs goes out the window when the games begin. The Bucs will have a huge target on their backs this year. Every team they play will put extra emphasis on the game and will be extra juiced to play the SB winners. Bucs will have a big target on their back every game. That’s part of the reason repeat SB winners are relatively rare. Can they win it all again? Sure, but it may be harder this time.
May 11th, 2021 at 3:15 pm
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,, teams that are not that great can win on ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,,,,,take strength of schedule for what you will
May 11th, 2021 at 8:41 pm
Brady is chasing the “Perfect Season”!
Coming Soon!