The Bucs open the season against a formal division rival, one that hasn't beaten them in since last hosting them in 2001. The Bucs will not have to face Moss this time, which should help even the playing field some. What I like about this game is that Tice tends to be a little predictable, and is not the most innovative coach. This is the type of coaching staff that Gruden and Co. tend to eat for lunch. But with all the new guys and inexperience, you have to wonder if the Bucs will find it hard pressed to win this game. Well, since their are only a handful of rookies likely to play on either side of the ball, the Bucs should be able to clamp down on their offense, and move the ball relatively well on the Viking defense. This is a game I hope they take, and expect they will.
The Bills have been slowly getting better, and they possess one of the better defenses, as shown last year. If this game was later in the season, or up in Buffalo, I would stamp this as a loss. However, I don't think the Bills will be so much better than the Bucs, at this stage, that they can overcome the heat, especially if the Bucs run the ball effectively, which will likely be their goal. Look for a drag'em out slug fest with the Bucs scraping one out in the end.
The Bucs get a chance to face yet another former division rival, and in their house this time. The Packers managed to beat the Bucs at Ray Jay the last time they played (a first since the stadium had been built). Now the Bucs can return the favor. Unfortunately, with the team still trying to get their act together, I see the Packers taking this one.
Now the Bucs get to come home and begin to wonder if they are still in the NFC Central Division, as Detroit comes calling. The Bucs should put up a strong showing, but Detroit has been tough for them to beat the last couple of times they have played, and this year, Detroit will be looking to possibly make some noise. Unfortunately, a promising start slips back to 2-2 and the Bucs loose a home game.
Up into the hostile territory of New York go the Bucs. The will be facing a solid team, that will give them tons of fits. With Becht and Hackett on the Bucs, some inside information will be passed that might give the Bucs an edge, but, in the end, the Bucs will likely come up short in this hostile environment.
The Dolphins come to Tampa just before the Bucs' Bye Week. With the Bucs needing a win to keep from sliding to far down, the Bucs will deal the fish some serious body blows and show that Miami's defense is slipping. With R. Williams not having the size he had, and Brown still learning, the Bucs should be able to hold up against them defensively. Bucs take this one in convincing fashion.
The Bucs, after the Bye Week, go out to the left coast and face the 49ers again. And while the 49ers are probably not a better team than the Bucs, I can't help but think that the Bucs will once again blow it in California. Close, but a few key mistakes loose this one.
After loosing to the 49ers the Bucs have to host the stinkin' Panthers. The Bucs will play a very physical game and push the Panthers as much as they push the Bucs. But with Davis healthy, the Bucs will have a hard time keeping the Panthers contained while the offense will have to work for every yard they get. In the end, the two teams will fight it out hard and the slug fest can go either way. This time, I think the Panthers edge it out with a field goal.
After loosing to the stinkin' Panthers the Bucs will be a little ticked off and wanting to get back to winning games. Now serving: Washington. In come the Redskins, and the Bucs will be waiting for them. This time around the Bucs will be able to run the ball, and they will have plenty of film on the Redskins offense. And this time they will server the Skins up on a plate for their home fans.
With the prior win, the Bucs will now want to start a winning streak, and do so by beating one of their NFC South rivals. This time McKay's uber-paid QB will be toast as the Bucs defense takes it to Vick, and the Bucs run all over the undersized Falcon's defense. Look for an offensive explosion and a Bucs win.
Yet another former division rival comes back to play the Bucs. Along with them, they bring back Thomas Jones, along with new teammate Cedric Benson. However, with out Grossman, the Bears are dog meat, as they simply don't have the horses to handle the Bucs at Ray Jay, especially as the Bucs are starting to get on a roll. The Bucs will win another game going away.
The Bucs travel to Nawlins to face the Saints with most of the season past, and many teams starting to jockey for playoff positioning. With the Bucs new found ability to ram the ball down opponents throats, and throw on them when they stack it up, the Bucs will move the ball well and score points on the Saints defense. On the other end, the defense will force mistakes and limit the Saints' opportunities. Another hard fought division contest will go to the Bucs with some room to spare.
These scumbags just don't know how to lose to us. The Bucs will fight out another gut wrenching game with the score occasionally changing back and forth. In the end, the Bucs will, once again, just barely miss out beating the stinkin' Panthers, who happen to be on track to win the South. We'll get'em in the playoffs or next year, trust me.
The Bucs get their first crack at the Champs. This will be the first meeting between these two teams since the Pats had Bledsoe, and Gruden was with the Raiders. This will be a fun game, as the chess matches between the two will be highly exciting to watch. This game will be tight, and the Bucs will just barely lose out late in the game, making the Chucky face come out once again, and push the Bucs toward not making the playoffs if they don't win out, as they will be 7-7 at this point.
With a wildcard berth at play, these two teams will duke it out. The Bucs, however, with a couple more losses than the Falcons, will be hungrier and will put forth the effort to bring the home fans another Falcon's beating. The Vick will be poked with a stick, and put to the fire like a marshmallow. The Bucs will take this one in glorious fashion and will get a shot at the last wildcard spot by beating the Saints next week.
With a wildcard berth on the line, the Bucs will host the Saints in a must win game. The Saints will be out of the playoff picture or only have a very remote chance at making it, and that will cause them to nose dive, as is their way at this time of the season. The Bucs will be up to the challenge and will secure a 9-7 record, stunning many, and squeaking into the playoffs, a tribute to just how well they managed to fix key issues with the team. They aren't Super Bowl material yet, but a nice little surprise nonetheless.
| Date & | Time | Team | W/L | Score | Prediction |
| Sept. 11 | 1pm | at Minnesota | W | 24-13 | W |
| Sept. 18 | 1pm | Buffalo | W | 19-3 | W |
| Sept. 25 | 1pm | at Green Bay | W | 17-16 | L |
| Oct. 2 | 1pm | Detroit | W | 17-13 | L |
| Oct. 9 | 1pm | at New York Jets | L | 12-14 | L |
| Oct. 16 | 1pm | Miami | W | 27-13 | W |
| Oct. 23 | 1pm | **BYE WEEK** | |||
| Oct. 30 | 4:15pm | at San Francisco | L | 10-15 | L |
| Nov. 6 | 1pm | Carolina | L | 14-34 | L |
| Nov. 13 | 1pm | Washington | W | 36-35 | W |
| Nov. 20 | 1pm | at Atlanta | W | 30-27 | W |
| Nov. 27 | 1pm | Chicago | L | 10-13 | W |
| Dec. 4 | 1pm | at New Orleans | W | 10-3 | W |
| Dec. 11 | 1pm | at Carolina | W | 20-10 | L |
| Dec. 17 | 1:30pm | at New England | L | 0-28 | L |
| Dec. 24 | 1pm | Atlanta | W | 27-24 | W |
| Jan. 1 | 1pm | New Orleans | W | 27-13 | W |
